Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Stratham vs Auburn vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k 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 | Stratham | Auburn | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097 |
7,754Highest |
6,119 |
2,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 11% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
48.1±4.1Highest 11% above NH |
| Sutton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Sutton 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% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sutton and Stratham 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% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
44.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21kLowest 26% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$130,313±$31k 32% above NH |
| Auburn and Stratham 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 |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
| Stratham and Auburn 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 |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$1,656±$614 11% above NH |
| Stratham and Auburn 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 |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$7,652Lowest 15% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 4% above NH |
29 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Auburn School District | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.4 |
| 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.