Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Windham vs Strafford vs Goffstown
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 oldest population (median age 48).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k 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 | Windham | Strafford | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097Lowest |
16,038 |
4,306 |
18,513Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
41.3±3.1 5% below NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton and Strafford 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 NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$113,958±$12kLowest 15% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,231±$161 17% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233 23% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$6,941 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 25% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Windham School District | Strafford School District | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
— | 12.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.