Compare towns

Newton vs Dummer vs Strafford

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newton has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Dummer has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Strafford has the youngest population (median age 46.3).

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.

MeasureNewtonDummerStrafford
People
Population
4,836Highest
299Lowest
4,306
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.7%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
—
+6%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
47.8±5.7
10% above NH
53.6±6.4Highest
24% above NH
46.3±2.1Lowest
7% above NH
Dummer 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
NH: 18.2%
19.4%±5.1Highest
NH: 18.2%
17.6%±3.5
NH: 18.2%
Dummer and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16%±3Lowest
NH: 20.1%
21.4%±4.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
19.4%±4.1
NH: 20.1%
Dummer 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%
NH: 40.6%
16.9%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
40.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.7%±2.5
NH: 6%
0%±5.7Lowest
NH: 6%
5.4%±2.6Highest
NH: 6%
Strafford 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
40% above NH
$91,250±$21kLowest
8% below NH
$122,105±$22k
23% above NH
Newton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$459,500±$18kHighest
14% above NH
$242,200±$51kLowest
40% below NH
$427,900±$29k
6% above NH
Newton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,683±$96Highest
13% above NH
—
$1,635±$246Lowest
10% above NH
Newton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,124Highest
22% above NH
$2,898Lowest
57% below NH
$6,086
9% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62%±41.8
NH: 48.2%
0%±100Lowest
NH: 48.2%
76.3%±30.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
Strafford and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.5%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
9%Highest
NH: 7.2%
8%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
94.2%Highest
NH: 72.8%
93.5%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
4 yrs newer than NH
1977Lowest
2 yrs older than NH
1985Highest
6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
13% above NH
25 minLowest
6% below NH
36 minHighest
34% above NH
Work from home
18.1%±5.2Highest
NH: 16.8%
6.8%±4.4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
15.9%±5
NH: 16.8%
Newton 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 #70 of 120 in NH — #73 of 120 in NH
School district Sanborn Regional School District — Strafford School District
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.