Compare towns
Newton vs Wakefield 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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
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.
| Measure | Newton | Wakefield | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,836 |
27,793Highest |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±5.7 23% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% 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% |
20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield 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% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dunbarton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newton and Wakefield 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. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21kLowest 54% above U.S. |
| Newton and Wakefield 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. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$96 19% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,124 160% above U.S. |
$7,779Lowest 149% above U.S. |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±41.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield and Newton 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
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| 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.