Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Upton vs Sutton vs Strafford
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%).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Strafford has the youngest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Upton | Sutton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097 |
8,189Highest |
2,239Lowest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Upton 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford 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±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$130,313±$31k 61% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22kLowest 51% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton 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. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$362,600±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70 17% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233 164% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$7,652 145% above U.S. |
$6,086Lowest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | — | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Kearsarge Regional School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.