Compare towns

Dunbarton vs Exeter vs Ogunquit vs Strafford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dunbarton has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k median).

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.

MeasureDunbartonExeterOgunquitStrafford
People
Population
3,097
16,151Highest
1,379Lowest
4,306
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48±3.7
23% above U.S.
45.8±2.3Lowest
18% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
46.3±2.1
19% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.8%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.6%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
Dunbarton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.4%±4.3
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Strafford 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.
$110,346±$13kLowest
37% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$122,105±$22k
51% above U.S.
Dunbarton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$484,100±$33k
46% above U.S.
$456,600±$21k
37% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$427,900±$29kLowest
29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,166±$70Lowest
17% below U.S.
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
—
$1,635±$246
16% above U.S.
Exeter and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,233
164% above U.S.
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$6,086
95% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.7%±60.7
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
76.3%±30.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Strafford and Exeter 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%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
27% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
Work from home
12.6%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.9%±5
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #33 of 120 in NH #22 of 120 in NH — #73 of 120 in NH
School district Dunbarton School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District — Strafford School District
High school in town None in town Exeter High School — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.1
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 59 photos → 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.