Compare towns
Strafford vs Sutton vs Northwood
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 expensive homes ($428k median).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Northwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Sutton | Northwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306 |
790Lowest |
4,688Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
46.6±5.7Highest 20% above U.S. |
42.4±7.8Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Northwood 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% |
21.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Northwood 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% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Northwood 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. |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$129,375±$23kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Northwood 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±$29kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$231,100±$41kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$363,000±$13k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
— | $1,201±$372Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086Highest 95% above U.S. |
$3,975Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,806 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±31.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.7%±29.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Sutton 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% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northwood 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 | — | #24 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
| 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.