Compare towns
Sutton vs Penobscot 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 highest household income ($130k).
Penobscot has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Dunbarton has the most expensive homes ($484k median).
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 | Penobscot | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,239 |
1,154Lowest |
3,097Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±4.1 24% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7Highest 37% above U.S. |
48±3.7Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Penobscot 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% |
18%±6Lowest 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% |
32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Penobscot 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% |
32.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest 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. |
$63,194±$14kLowest 22% below 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±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$296,400±$58kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$484,100±$33kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,141±$33Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,166±$70 17% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Dunbarton 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. |
$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Penobscot 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Penobscot and Sutton 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 | — | — | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kearsarge Regional School District | Penobscot Public Schools | 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.