Compare towns
Sutton vs Lancaster 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
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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 | Lancaster | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,239Lowest |
8,606Highest |
3,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sutton and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $130,313±$31k 61% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21kLowest 54% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,600±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,656±$614 17% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,652 145% above U.S. |
$7,235Lowest 132% above U.S. |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #145 of 282 in MA | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kearsarge Regional School District | Nashoba | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — |
| 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.