Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Hanover vs Lee vs Sutton
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%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Lee | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097 |
11,685Highest |
4,576 |
2,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 11% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
48.1±4.1Highest 11% 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee 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% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Sutton 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% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
44.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21kLowest 26% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$130,313±$31k 32% above NH |
| Hanover and Lee 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 |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
— | $1,656±$614 11% above NH |
| Hanover and Sutton 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 |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$7,652Lowest 15% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
29 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.