Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Salisbury 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 kids (19.8% under 18).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Salisbury | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097Lowest |
9,281Highest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Salisbury 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 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest 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% |
25.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury 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% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Salisbury 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. |
$93,361±$6kLowest 16% 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. |
$478,700±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Salisbury 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. |
$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
| Salisbury 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. |
$4,604Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Salisbury 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% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Triton | 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 |
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.