Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Lyme 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%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
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 | Lyme | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097 |
1,710Lowest |
4,306Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 11% above NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
46.3±2.1Lowest 7% above NH |
| Lyme and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Dunbarton and Lyme 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme 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% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest 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±$21k 26% above NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$122,105±$22kLowest 23% above NH |
| Lyme and Dunbarton 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 |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
| Strafford and Lyme 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Lowest 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 25% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #33 of 120 in NH | — | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Lyme 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.