Compare towns
Sutton vs Orford vs Lincoln
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%).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Lincoln has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Orford | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,239Highest |
1,295Lowest |
1,461 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
0% NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.1±4.1 11% above NH |
48.9±3.3Highest 13% above NH |
46.8±10.1Lowest 8% above NH |
| Orford 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% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.4%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Sutton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
28.3%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lincoln and Orford 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% |
44% NH: 40.6% |
38.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Orford 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±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
$92,571±$24k 7% below NH |
$70,625±$54kLowest 29% below NH |
| Sutton and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,600±$16kHighest 10% below NH |
$271,900±$25kLowest 32% below NH |
$342,000±$38k 15% below NH |
| Sutton and Lincoln 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 |
$1,263±$686 15% below NH |
$1,143±$498Lowest 23% below NH |
| Sutton and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,652Highest 15% above NH |
$5,836 12% below NH |
$2,984Lowest 55% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7 NH: 48.2% |
49.7%±26Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lincoln and Orford 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% |
5.8% NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.5% NH: 72.8% |
72%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.8%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±8.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lincoln and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Kearsarge Regional School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | Rivendell Academy | Lin-Wood Public School (High) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
9.5 |
7.4Lowest |
| 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.