Compare towns
Sutton vs Waterville Valley vs Jackson 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).
Waterville Valley has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Jackson has the most expensive homes ($719k median).
Dunbarton has the youngest population (median age 48).
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 | Waterville Valley | Jackson | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,239 |
290Lowest |
897 |
3,097Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— | +26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.1±4.1 11% above NH |
61.6±16.5Highest 42% above NH |
60.5±2.5 40% above NH |
48±3.7Lowest 11% above NH |
| Waterville Valley and Jackson 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% |
8.6%±11.6 NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest 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%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
43.1%±9.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±6.4 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Waterville Valley and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% NH: 40.6% |
71.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
67.7% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| 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 32% above NH |
$105,625±$50kLowest 7% above NH |
$117,986±$46k 19% 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 |
$562,500±$193k 40% above NH |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
| Jackson and Waterville Valley 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 |
$1,150±$382Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH |
$1,166±$70 22% below NH |
| Jackson 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 |
$5,745Lowest 14% below NH |
$6,001 10% below NH |
$8,233Highest 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±47.2 NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±100 NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Waterville Valley 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% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
81.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.4% NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
19 min 31% below NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.8%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.7%±12.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Jackson and Waterville Valley 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 | Waterville Valley School District | Jackson School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town | 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 | 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.