Compare towns
Strafford vs Amherst vs Dunbarton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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 | Strafford | Amherst | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306 |
11,861Highest |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
45.9±3.5Lowest 6% above NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,105±$22kLowest 23% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
| Amherst and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
| Amherst and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Strafford and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
33 minLowest 22% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #73 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.