Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Lee 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%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Strafford has the most renters (6.5% rent).
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 | Lee | Sutton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097 |
4,576Highest |
2,239Lowest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 11% above NH |
42.9±1.9Lowest 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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest 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% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.3% NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$130,313±$31k 32% above NH |
$122,105±$22kLowest 23% above NH |
| Lee and Sutton 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 |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Lee 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 |
— | $1,656±$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 | $8,233 23% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$7,652 15% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 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 |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 10% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | — | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | 10 photos → | 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.