Compare towns
Strafford vs Dunbarton vs Rochester
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 people working from home (15.9%).
Dunbarton has the most expensive homes ($484k median).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
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 | Dunbarton | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306 |
3,097Lowest |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
43±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
| 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% |
19.8%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Dunbarton and Rochester 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% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Rochester 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 23% above NH |
$124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Strafford 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 |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,369±$72 8% below NH |
| Strafford and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086 9% below NH |
$8,233Highest 23% above NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Strafford and Dunbarton 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Dunbarton School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.2 |
| 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.