Compare towns
New Durham vs Acton vs Dunbarton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Durham has the youngest population (median age 46.5).
Acton has the most people working from home (18.2%).
Dunbarton has the most expensive homes ($484k 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 | New Durham | Acton | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,748 |
2,721Lowest |
3,097Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±7.5Lowest 20% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
| Acton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dunbarton and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunbarton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,194±$13k 24% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$124,348±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,400±$27k about the U.S. average |
$334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$484,100±$33kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,417±$116Highest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,774 85% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±42.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton 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 | — | #43 of 133 in ME | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Acton Public Schools | 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 |
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.