Compare towns
Strafford vs Atkinson 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).
Atkinson has the most people working from home (21.1%).
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 | Atkinson | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306 |
7,267Highest |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% NH: +4.6% |
+5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1Lowest 7% above NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
48±3.7 11% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Dunbarton and Strafford 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% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Dunbarton 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% |
42.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Atkinson and Strafford 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 |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
| Atkinson 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 |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
| Atkinson 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 |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,166±$70 22% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$6,918 4% above NH |
$8,233Highest 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Atkinson 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% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
28 minLowest 6% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Atkinson 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | None 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.