Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Reading vs Sutton 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%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Sutton has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Strafford has the youngest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Reading | Sutton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097 |
699Lowest |
2,239 |
4,306Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1 24% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Reading and Sutton 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% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Sutton 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% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Sutton 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 54% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22k 51% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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±$33kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$362,600±$16kLowest 9% 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. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$7,652 145% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Reading 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Strafford 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 | — | — | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Kearsarge Regional School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.