Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Grafton vs Sutton 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%).
Grafton has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Sutton has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Grafton | Sutton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097 |
1,354Lowest |
2,239 |
4,306Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 11% above NH |
43.1±10.6Lowest about the NH average |
48.1±4.1Highest 11% above NH |
46.3±2.1 7% 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% |
21%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Grafton and Sutton 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% |
21%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Sutton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
24.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±2.8 NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$81,563±$22kLowest 18% below NH |
$130,313±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% 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 |
$267,300±$23kLowest 34% below NH |
$362,600±$16k 10% below NH |
$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 |
$1,243±$163 17% below NH |
$1,656±$614Highest 11% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Sutton and Strafford 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 |
$5,239Lowest 21% below NH |
$7,652 15% above NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±34.1 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Dunbarton 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% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% NH: 72.8% |
83.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 25% above NH |
43 minHighest 62% above NH |
29 minLowest 10% above NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Grafton 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 | — | Kearsarge Regional School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.