Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Northfield 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%).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
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 | Northfield | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097Lowest |
4,971Highest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
42.6±5.1Lowest about the NH average |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Northfield 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 NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
23.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.5 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Northfield 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 |
$92,917±$15kLowest 6% below NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| 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 20% above NH |
$288,500±$33kLowest 28% below NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| 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 22% below NH |
$1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233Highest 23% above NH |
$5,097Lowest 24% below NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
24.1%±14.1Lowest 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% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 25% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #109 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Winnisquam Regional 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.