Compare towns

Dunbarton vs Springfield 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%).
Springfield has the most renters (50.4% rent).
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.

MeasureDunbartonSpringfieldStrafford
People
Population
3,097Lowest
154,749Highest
4,306
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48±3.7Highest
23% above U.S.
33.7±0.5Lowest
13% below 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%
24.2%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.6%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Springfield 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
U.S.: 17.2%
13.2%±0.7Lowest
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%
20.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±0.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Springfield and Strafford 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.
$52,656±$2kLowest
35% below 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.
$245,000±$4kLowest
26% below 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.
$1,144±$55Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,635±$246Highest
16% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,233Highest
164% above U.S.
$3,695Lowest
18% above U.S.
$6,086
95% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.7%±60.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.7%±3.1
U.S.: 51.1%
76.3%±30.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Strafford and Springfield 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%
25.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
49.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
27% above U.S.
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
Work from home
12.6%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.9%±5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #276 of 282 in MA #73 of 120 in NH
School district Dunbarton School District Springfield Strafford School District
High school in town None in town Springfield Central High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.2
—
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.