Compare towns
Strafford vs Exeter 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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Dunbarton has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306 |
16,151Highest |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter 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 23% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$124,348±$21kHighest 26% above 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±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Exeter and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Exeter 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.