Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Hampden 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Hampden has the most people working from home (21.3%).
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 | Hampden | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097Lowest |
7,896Highest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dunbarton and Strafford 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% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Hampden 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. |
$111,959±$13kLowest 39% 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±$33kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
| 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 17% below U.S. |
$1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Hampden 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. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampden 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 | #6 of 133 in ME | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | RSU 22 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hampden Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.