Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Jackson 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 kids (19.8% under 18).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
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 | Jackson | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097 |
897Lowest |
4,306Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 11% above NH |
60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
46.3±2.1Lowest 7% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Dunbarton and Strafford 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% |
28.4%±6.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Jackson 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% |
67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Dunbarton 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 26% above NH |
$117,986±$46kLowest 19% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| 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 20% above NH |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Jackson 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 |
$6,001Lowest 10% below NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest 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% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 25% above NH |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Jackson 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 | Jackson School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.