Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Hampton Falls vs Bow 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 the most homeowners (95.1%).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Dunbarton | Hampton Falls | Bow | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097 |
2,328Lowest |
8,335Highest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 11% above NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Dunbarton 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% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Bow 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±$21k 26% above NH |
$166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$122,105±$22kLowest 23% above NH |
| Bow and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233 23% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 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% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
93.5% 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 |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 25% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Hampton Falls 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Hampton Falls School District | Bow School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.