Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Waterville Valley vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunbarton has the youngest population (median age 48).
Waterville Valley has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k 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.
| Measure | Dunbarton | Waterville Valley | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097Highest |
290Lowest |
2,239 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— | +7.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Lowest 11% above NH |
61.6±16.5Highest 42% above NH |
48.1±4.1 11% above NH |
| Waterville Valley 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 NH: 18.2% |
8.6%±11.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
43.1%±9.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
71.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
0.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Sutton 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 26% above NH |
$105,625±$50kLowest 7% above NH |
$130,313±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
| 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 20% above NH |
$562,500±$193kHighest 40% above NH |
$362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
| Waterville Valley 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 22% below NH |
$1,150±$382Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,656±$614Highest 11% above NH |
| Sutton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233Highest 23% above NH |
$5,745Lowest 14% below NH |
$7,652 15% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±100 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Waterville Valley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% NH: 72.8% |
81.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
29 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.7%±12.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Waterville Valley 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 | — | — |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Waterville Valley School District | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.