Compare towns
Weare vs Gilford vs Strafford 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
Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Gilford has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Weare | Gilford | Strafford | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170Highest |
7,830 |
4,306 |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8% NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4Lowest 5% above NH |
48.2±3.9Highest 11% above NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
48±3.7 11% above NH |
| Gilford and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Gilford and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% NH: 40.6% |
45.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
$116,635±$11kLowest 18% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$456,500±$56k 13% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214 3% above NH |
$1,150±$747Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,166±$70 22% below NH |
| Strafford and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272 6% below NH |
$4,868Lowest 27% below NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
$8,233Highest 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
93.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 34% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Weare and Gilford 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Gilford School District | Strafford School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | Gilford High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
11.5Highest |
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| 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.