Compare towns
Newton vs Nelson vs Dunbarton vs Kingston
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 highest household income ($138k).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Kingston has the most renters (25.6% rent).
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 | Newton | Nelson | Dunbarton | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,836 |
648Lowest |
3,097 |
6,275Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.8±5.7 10% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
48±3.7 11% above NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Kingston and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Kingston 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% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Newton and Dunbarton 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 |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
| 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±$18k 14% above NH |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH |
| Kingston and Dunbarton 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 |
$1,203±$243 19% below NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,124 22% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$8,233Highest 23% above NH |
$7,906 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±41.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Newton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
2.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #70 of 120 in NH | — | #33 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Nelson School District | Dunbarton School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.9 |
| 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.