Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Strafford vs Wolfeboro
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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.
| Measure | Dunbarton | Strafford | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097Lowest |
4,306 |
6,571Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 11% above NH |
46.3±2.1Lowest 7% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest 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%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Dunbarton 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 |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% 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±$33k 20% above NH |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70 22% below NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233Highest 23% above NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest 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% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 25% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Strafford School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.