Compare towns
Goffstown vs Newton vs Sutton 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
Goffstown has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
Newton has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
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.
| Measure | Goffstown | Newton | Sutton | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,513Highest |
4,836 |
2,239Lowest |
3,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% NH: +4.6% |
+4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
47.8±5.7 10% above NH |
48.1±4.1Highest 11% above NH |
48±3.7 11% above NH |
| Sutton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 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+ | 19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
16%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Sutton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12kLowest 15% above NH |
$138,487±$29kHighest 40% above NH |
$130,313±$31k 32% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
| Newton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,400±$20k 6% below NH |
$459,500±$18k 14% above NH |
$362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,231±$161 17% below NH |
$1,683±$96Highest 13% above NH |
$1,656±$614 11% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Newton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,941Lowest 4% above NH |
$8,124 22% above NH |
$7,652 15% above NH |
$8,233Highest 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20 NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Newton and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% NH: 7.2% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
29 min 10% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Newton 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 | #35 of 120 in NH | #70 of 120 in NH | — | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.