Compare towns
Sutton vs Newton vs Strafford
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Newton has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Strafford has the youngest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Newton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,239Lowest |
4,836Highest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.1±4.1Highest 11% above NH |
47.8±5.7 10% above NH |
46.3±2.1Lowest 7% above NH |
| Sutton and Newton 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% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Sutton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
16%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Sutton and Strafford 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 NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Sutton 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 32% above NH |
$138,487±$29kHighest 40% above NH |
$122,105±$22kLowest 23% above NH |
| Newton 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 10% below NH |
$459,500±$18kHighest 14% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Newton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,656±$614 11% above NH |
$1,683±$96Highest 13% above NH |
$1,635±$246Lowest 10% above NH |
| Newton and Sutton 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 |
$8,124Highest 22% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.8%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Newton 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 | — | #70 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kearsarge Regional School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Strafford 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 |
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.