Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Lowell vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunbarton has the most expensive homes ($484k median).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
Strafford has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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 | Lowell | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097Lowest |
118,368Highest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dunbarton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
$122,105±$22k 51% above U.S. |
| 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±$33kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford 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 | #255 of 282 in MA | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Lowell | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lowell High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.