Compare towns
Stratford vs Danbury vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratford has the most affordable homes ($161k median).
Danbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Dalton has the highest household income ($81k).
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 | Stratford | Danbury | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 950 |
1,451Highest |
916Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.8±16.8Highest 15% above NH |
47.4±5.8 9% above NH |
44.5±12.9Lowest about the NH average |
| Stratford and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±7.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±11.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratford and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±9.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.7%±5 NH: 20.1% |
17.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Stratford and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
17.5% NH: 40.6% |
20.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.7 NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±4.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Dalton and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $49,583±$14kLowest 50% below NH |
$71,685±$11k 28% below NH |
$81,429±$36kHighest 18% below NH |
| Dalton and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $161,100±$48kLowest 60% below NH |
$240,700±$35kHighest 40% below NH |
$191,400±$68k 52% below NH |
| Danbury and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$264Lowest 48% below NH |
$1,281±$390Highest 14% below NH |
$900±$825 40% below NH |
| Danbury and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,512Lowest 62% below NH |
$3,760Highest 44% below NH |
$3,561 47% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±53.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±36.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±83.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratford and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 23.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
19.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6% NH: 72.8% |
90.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 16% below NH |
36 minHighest 35% above NH |
20 minLowest 26% below NH |
| Work from home | 8.4%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.9%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Danbury and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Stratford School District | Newfound Area School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.