Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Exeter vs Goffstown vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunbarton has the most expensive homes ($484k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Goffstown has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
Sutton has the highest household income ($130k).
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.
| Measure | Dunbarton | Exeter | Goffstown | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097 |
16,151 |
18,513Highest |
2,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 11% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
48.1±4.1Highest 11% above NH |
| Sutton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sutton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Sutton 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 NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
44.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
$130,313±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
| Sutton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$377,400±$20k 6% below NH |
$362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,231±$161 17% below NH |
$1,656±$614 11% above NH |
| Exeter and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233 23% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,941Lowest 4% above NH |
$7,652 15% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
6.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
29 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Sutton 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #35 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Goffstown School District | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Goffstown High School | Kearsarge Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
12.6Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.