Compare towns

Newton vs Dracut 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

Newton has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).

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.

MeasureNewtonDracutDunbarton
People
Population
4,836
32,574Highest
3,097Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.8±5.7
23% above U.S.
41.7±2Lowest
7% above U.S.
48±3.7Highest
23% above U.S.
Dunbarton and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.1%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.4%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
Dracut and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dunbarton and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.7%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Dracut and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$138,487±$29kHighest
72% above U.S.
$114,036±$10kLowest
41% above U.S.
$124,348±$21k
54% above U.S.
Newton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$459,500±$18kLowest
38% above U.S.
$473,900±$17k
42% above U.S.
$484,100±$33kHighest
46% above U.S.
Dunbarton and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,683±$96
19% above U.S.
$1,839±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,166±$70Lowest
17% below U.S.
Dracut and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,124
160% above U.S.
$5,375Lowest
72% above U.S.
$8,233Highest
164% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62%±41.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.6%±7.4
U.S.: 51.1%
54.7%±60.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Newton and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minLowest
15% above U.S.
30 minLowest
15% above U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.4%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.6%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Newton 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 #70 of 120 in NH #201 of 282 in MA #33 of 120 in NH
School district Sanborn Regional School District Dracut Dunbarton School District
High school in town None in town Dracut Senior High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.9
—
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.