Compare towns
Strafford vs Dunbarton vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most people working from home (15.9%).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).
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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306 |
3,097Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% 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%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dunbarton and Strafford 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Townsend 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. |
$124,348±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
| 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±$29kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086 95% above U.S. |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 27% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Strafford School District | Dunbarton School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.