Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Mapleton vs New Gloucester 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
New Gloucester has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
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 | Mapleton | New Gloucester | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097 |
1,884Lowest |
5,766Highest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
40.1±5.5Lowest 3% 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% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| New Gloucester and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest 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% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$108,797±$12k 35% 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$357,100±$29k 7% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70 17% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,150±$249 19% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,417 10% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.7%±12 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and New Gloucester 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 | — | #65 of 133 in ME | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.