What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dunbarton has the most expensive homes ($484k median).

Thetford has the shortest commute (23 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dunbarton	Thetford
People
Population	3,097Highest	2,813Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S.	43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S.
	Dunbarton and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%	15.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Dunbarton and Thetford 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%	20.8%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thetford 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	68%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Thetford 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 54% above U.S.	$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S.
	Dunbarton and Thetford 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.	$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,166±$70Highest 17% below U.S.	$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Dunbarton and Thetford 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.	$6,948Lowest 123% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.7%±60.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	49.7%±30.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dunbarton and Thetford 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%	8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Thetford 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	#40 of 70 in VT
School district	Dunbarton School District	Thetford School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.