Compare towns
Sutton vs Wells 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 most affordable homes ($363k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Wells | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,239Lowest |
11,713Highest |
3,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±4.1 24% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
48±3.7Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Wells 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%±3.4Lowest 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% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sutton and Wells 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. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above 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±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
| Wells and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Wells 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. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunbarton and Wells 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% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wells 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kearsarge Regional School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.4Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.