Compare towns

Dunbarton vs Sutton vs Wells

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 the youngest population (median age 48).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).

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.

MeasureDunbartonSuttonWells
People
Population
3,097
2,239Lowest
11,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+18%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48±3.7Lowest
23% above U.S.
48.1±4.1
24% above U.S.
53.6±3.8Highest
38% above U.S.
Wells and Sutton 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%
20.5%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Sutton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.4%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.9
U.S.: 17.2%
31%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Sutton and Wells 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.
$130,313±$31kHighest
61% above U.S.
$88,024±$11kLowest
9% above U.S.
Sutton 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±$33k
46% above U.S.
$362,600±$16kLowest
9% above U.S.
$485,300±$23kHighest
46% above U.S.
Wells and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,166±$70Lowest
17% below U.S.
$1,656±$614Highest
17% above U.S.
$1,350±$297
4% below U.S.
Sutton and Wells 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.
$7,652
145% above U.S.
$3,215Lowest
3% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.7%±60.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
27.6%±47.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.1%±19.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Dunbarton and Wells 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%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1989
9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
28 minLowest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
12.6%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.8%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Wells and Sutton 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 — #22 of 133 in ME
School district Dunbarton School District Kearsarge Regional School District Wells-Ogunquit CSD
High school in town None in town Kearsarge Regional High School Wells High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.4Lowest
11.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.