Compare towns
Sutton vs Durham vs Dunbarton vs Lyndeborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Sutton | Durham | Dunbarton | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,239 |
15,080Highest |
3,097 |
1,616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.1±4.1 11% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
48±3.7 11% above NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
| Lyndeborough and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Sutton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyndeborough and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $130,313±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$116,964±$17kLowest 18% above NH |
| Sutton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$390,900±$26k about the NH average |
| Durham and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,656±$614Highest 11% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,482±$457 about the NH average |
| Sutton and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,652 15% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
$7,133Lowest 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
92.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.8%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Lyndeborough 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Kearsarge Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Dunbarton School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.