Compare towns

Dunbarton vs Ripton 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 most expensive homes ($484k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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.

MeasureDunbartonRiptonStrafford
People
Population
3,097
508Lowest
4,306Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48±3.7Highest
23% above U.S.
47.7±14.2
23% above U.S.
46.3±2.1Lowest
19% above U.S.
Dunbarton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.6%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
Dunbarton and Strafford 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%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton 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
U.S.: 35.7%
48%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$124,348±$21kHighest
54% above U.S.
$112,917±$15kLowest
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.
$394,400±$61kLowest
19% 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±$70Lowest
17% below U.S.
—
$1,635±$246Highest
16% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,233Highest
164% above U.S.
$4,915Lowest
58% above U.S.
$6,086
95% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.7%±60.7
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100Lowest
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%
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
27% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
Work from home
12.6%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.9%±5
U.S.: 15.1%
Ripton 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 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Strafford School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.