Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Williston 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 the oldest population (median age 48).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k 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 | Williston | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097Lowest |
10,144Highest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Strafford 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Dunbarton 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% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Strafford 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. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above 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. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Williston 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. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
| Williston and Strafford 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. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.