Compare towns
Sutton vs Salem vs Dunbarton
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 the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% 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 | Salem | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,239Lowest |
30,964Highest |
3,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.1±4.1Highest 11% above NH |
44.6±2.7Lowest 3% above NH |
48±3.7 11% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
| 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sutton and Salem 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 |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
| 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 10% below NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Salem 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 |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Sutton and Salem 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 |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
$8,233Highest 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above NH |
29 minLowest 9% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.8%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Salem 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 | — | #38 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kearsarge Regional School District | Salem School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | Salem High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.