Compare towns

Dunbarton vs Freeport 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).
Freeport has the most people working from home (21.2%).
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.

MeasureDunbartonFreeportStrafford
People
Population
3,097Lowest
8,802Highest
4,306
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48±3.7
23% above U.S.
48.8±4.3Highest
25% above U.S.
46.3±2.1Lowest
19% above U.S.
Freeport 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
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
17.6%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Dunbarton and Freeport 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%
26.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Freeport 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
U.S.: 35.7%
59.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Strafford and Freeport 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.
$107,326±$19kLowest
33% 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.
$508,400±$76kHighest
53% above U.S.
$427,900±$29kLowest
29% above U.S.
Freeport and Dunbarton 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.
$1,439±$123
about the U.S. average
$1,635±$246Highest
16% above U.S.
Strafford and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,233Highest
164% above U.S.
$5,042Lowest
62% above U.S.
$6,086
95% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.7%±60.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
62%±18.9
U.S.: 51.1%
76.3%±30.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Strafford and Freeport 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%
8.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1984Lowest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
27% above U.S.
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
Work from home
12.6%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.2%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.9%±5
U.S.: 15.1%
Freeport 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 #4 of 133 in ME #73 of 120 in NH
School district Dunbarton School District RSU 05 Strafford School District
High school in town None in town Freeport High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.2
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.