Compare towns
Sutton vs Merrimac 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).
Merrimac has the most renters (18.7% rent).
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 | Merrimac | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,239Lowest |
6,748Highest |
3,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±4.1 24% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S. |
48±3.7Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Merrimac 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest 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%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest 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±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$123,054±$16kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21k 54% above U.S. |
| 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 9% above U.S. |
$553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
| Merrimac 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 17% above U.S. |
$1,352±$325 4% below U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Merrimac 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. |
$7,399Lowest 137% above U.S. |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Merrimac and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.8%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Dunbarton 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 | — | #188 of 282 in MA | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kearsarge Regional School District | Pentucket | 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 Our Story | 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.