Compare towns
Strafford vs Mendon 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 youngest population (median age 46.3).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Mendon | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306Highest |
1,113Lowest |
3,097 |
| 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±2.1Lowest 19% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Dunbarton 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% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Dunbarton 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. |
$100,524±$23kLowest 25% above 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. |
$357,000±$44kLowest 7% above 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. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Mendon 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. |
$5,342Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Strafford 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon 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 | — | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | — | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.