Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Strafford vs Hooksett vs Weare
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 expensive homes ($484k median).
Strafford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1985).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Hooksett | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097Lowest |
4,306 |
15,057Highest |
9,170 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.6±4 5% above 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%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Weare 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 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3Lowest 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% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett 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 |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$118,271±$17k 19% above 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±$29k 6% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| 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 22% below NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,541±$214 3% above NH |
| Hooksett and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233Highest 23% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$6,272 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 25% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
36 min 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Weare 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Strafford School District | Hooksett School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | John Stark Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.