Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Ware vs Hopkinton
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%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Hopkinton has the most people working from home (23.8%).
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 | Ware | Hopkinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097Lowest |
10,048Highest |
6,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45±2.8 16% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Hopkinton 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% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dunbarton and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ware 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hopkinton and Ware 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. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$137,477±$21kHighest 70% above U.S. |
| Hopkinton 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. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$506,900±$54kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Hopkinton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70 17% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,270±$129Highest 10% below U.S. |
| Hopkinton and Dunbarton 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. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.8%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hopkinton 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #28 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Ware | Hopkinton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Hopkinton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| 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.