Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Loudon vs Barnstead
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 expensive homes ($484k median).
Loudon has the most renters (10.4% rent).
Barnstead has the youngest population (median age 42.8).
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 | Loudon | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097Lowest |
5,692Highest |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 11% above NH |
49.5±3.2Highest 14% above NH |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
| Loudon 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% |
16.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Loudon and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
29.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead 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 |
$106,966±$16kLowest 8% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Barnstead 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 |
$363,400±$48k 10% below NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,321±$465 11% below NH |
$1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
| Barnstead and Loudon 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 |
$5,821Lowest 13% below NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
45.5%±30.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Barnstead 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% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
89.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
30 minLowest 14% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Barnstead and Dunbarton 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 | #99 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Merrimack Valley School District | Barnstead 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.