Compare towns

Gilmanton vs Strafford vs Dunbarton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gilmanton has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
Strafford has the most people working from home (15.9%).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.

MeasureGilmantonStraffordDunbarton
People
Population
4,026
4,306Highest
3,097Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.4%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+6%
NH: +4.6%
+9%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
45±4.4Lowest
4% above NH
46.3±2.1
7% above NH
48±3.7Highest
11% above NH
Dunbarton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.5%±6.4Lowest
NH: 18.2%
17.6%±3.5
NH: 18.2%
19.8%±3.8Highest
NH: 18.2%
Dunbarton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.2%±4.4Lowest
NH: 20.1%
19.4%±4.1
NH: 20.1%
20.4%±4.3Highest
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+
37.9%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
40.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
39.6%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±2.8
NH: 6%
5.4%±2.6Highest
NH: 6%
3.8%±2Lowest
NH: 6%
Strafford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$117,088±$9kLowest
18% above NH
$122,105±$22k
23% above NH
$124,348±$21kHighest
26% above NH
Dunbarton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$363,700±$42kLowest
10% below NH
$427,900±$29k
6% above NH
$484,100±$33kHighest
20% above NH
Dunbarton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$421Lowest
25% below NH
$1,635±$246Highest
10% above NH
$1,166±$70
22% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,235
6% below NH
$6,086Lowest
9% below NH
$8,233Highest
23% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.1%±100
NH: 48.2%
76.3%±30.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
54.7%±60.7Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Strafford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4%
NH: 7.2%
8%Highest
NH: 7.2%
3%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
99.2%Highest
NH: 72.8%
93.5%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
95.1%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Lowest
2 yrs newer than NH
1985
6 yrs newer than NH
1990Highest
11 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minLowest
23% above NH
36 minHighest
34% above NH
34 min
25% above NH
Work from home
8.3%±5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
15.9%±5Highest
NH: 16.8%
12.6%±5.4
NH: 16.8%
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 #25 of 120 in NH #73 of 120 in NH #33 of 120 in NH
School district Gilmanton School District Strafford School District Dunbarton School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.