Compare towns
Strafford vs Windham 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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
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 | Windham | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306 |
16,038Highest |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below 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%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,105±$22kLowest 23% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Dunbarton 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% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
31 minLowest 15% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Windham School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.