Compare towns

Dunbarton vs Sturbridge vs New Durham

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%).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
New Durham has the most affordable homes ($339k 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.

MeasureDunbartonSturbridgeNew Durham
People
Population
3,097
9,960Highest
2,748Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48±3.7Highest
23% above U.S.
47.2±2.6
21% above U.S.
46.5±7.5Lowest
20% above U.S.
Dunbarton and Sturbridge 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%
20.7%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.8%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Sturbridge and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.4%±4.3
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.8%±4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
New Durham and Dunbarton 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%
49.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Sturbridge 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±$21k
54% above U.S.
$136,759±$15kHighest
69% above U.S.
$100,194±$13kLowest
24% above U.S.
Sturbridge and Dunbarton 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.
$425,800±$18k
28% above U.S.
$339,400±$27kLowest
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,166±$70Lowest
17% below U.S.
$1,193±$398
16% below U.S.
$1,417±$116Highest
about the U.S. average
New Durham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,233Highest
164% above U.S.
$6,520
109% above U.S.
$5,774Lowest
85% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.7%±60.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
25%±42.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dunbarton and Sturbridge 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%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1982Lowest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minLowest
27% above U.S.
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
35 min
31% above U.S.
Work from home
12.6%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
19.8%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Sturbridge 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 #89 of 282 in MA —
School district Dunbarton School District Sturbridge · Tantasqua Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town None in town Tantasqua Regional Sr High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
7.7
—
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.