Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Wells 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%).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Strafford has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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 | Wells | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097 |
1,148Lowest |
4,306Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2Highest 30% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Wells and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Dunbarton and Strafford 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% |
24.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells 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% |
29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford 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. |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$122,105±$22k 51% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Strafford 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. |
$243,000±$42kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Strafford 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. |
$1,313±$282 7% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford 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% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 27% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
36 min 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford 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 | — | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.