Compare towns
Strafford vs Ellsworth 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
Strafford has the most people working from home (15.9%).
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Dunbarton has the most expensive homes ($484k 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 | Ellsworth | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306 |
8,657Highest |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
43±2.4Lowest 11% 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%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dunbarton and Ellsworth 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% |
22.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ellsworth 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Ellsworth 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. |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$124,348±$21kHighest 54% 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±$29k 29% above U.S. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$484,100±$33kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| 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 16% above U.S. |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,166±$70 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086 95% above U.S. |
$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Ellsworth 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% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4 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 | #63 of 133 in ME | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Ellsworth Public Schools | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ellsworth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 5 photos → | 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.