What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).

Essex has the most people working from home (21.5%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dunbarton	Essex
People
Population	3,097Lowest	11,516Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S.	42.4±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S.
	Dunbarton and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Essex and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dunbarton and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	57.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dunbarton and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,348±$21kHighest 54% above U.S.	$110,199±$14kLowest 36% above U.S.
	Dunbarton and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$484,100±$33kHighest 46% above U.S.	$447,300±$14kLowest 34% above U.S.
	Dunbarton and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S.	$1,569±$138Highest 11% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,233Highest 164% above U.S.	$6,602Lowest 112% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.7%±60.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	45.9%±13.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dunbarton and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990 10 yrs newer than U.S.	1990 10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Essex and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#33 of 120 in NH	#13 of 70 in VT
School district	Dunbarton School District	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.