Compare towns
Strafford vs Danvers vs Barnstead 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
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
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 | Danvers | Barnstead | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,306 |
28,098Highest |
4,994 |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
45.3±3 16% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danvers and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead 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±$22k 51% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$111,660±$12kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21k 54% above U.S. |
| Danvers 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±$29k 29% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086 95% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
$6,003Lowest 92% above U.S. |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Danvers 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #111 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Barnstead School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.