Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Francestown vs Strafford
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Francestown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
Strafford has the youngest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Francestown | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097 |
1,398Lowest |
4,306Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 11% above NH |
51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
46.3±2.1Lowest 7% above NH |
| Francestown and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
21.7%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Francestown and Dunbarton 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% |
52.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Dunbarton 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 26% above NH |
$104,063±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| 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±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
$408,200±$34kLowest about the NH average |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Strafford 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 |
$1,358±$256 9% below NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
| Strafford and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233Highest 23% above NH |
$8,014 20% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Francestown 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% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 25% above NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Francestown and Strafford 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 | — | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.