Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Lunenburg 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 shortest commute (34 min average).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
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 | Lunenburg | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097Lowest |
11,902Highest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1Lowest 11% above 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% |
21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lunenburg 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% |
17.9%±2.7Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Lunenburg 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 54% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$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. |
$463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Strafford 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. |
$6,401 105% above U.S. |
$6,086Lowest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5Lowest 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% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 27% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
36 min 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Lunenburg 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 | #87 of 282 in MA | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Lunenburg | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lunenburg High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— |
| 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.