Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Strafford vs Dover
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 the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Strafford | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097Lowest |
4,306 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% NH: +4.6% |
+6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below 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%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Dunbarton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Dover 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 26% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below 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 |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Strafford and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233 23% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 25% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Strafford School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
| 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.