Compare towns
Weare vs Sutton 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%).
Sutton has the shortest commute (29 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 | Sutton | Strafford | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170Highest |
2,239Lowest |
4,306 |
3,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4Lowest 5% above NH |
48.1±4.1Highest 11% above NH |
46.3±2.1 7% 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 | 22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Sutton 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% |
21.6%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 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+ | 41.2% NH: 40.6% |
44.3%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% |
4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17kLowest 19% above NH |
$130,313±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% 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 | $396,300±$26k about the NH average |
$362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Strafford 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 |
$1,656±$614Highest 11% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Sutton and Strafford 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 |
$7,652 15% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$8,233Highest 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 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% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older 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 |
29 minLowest 10% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Weare and Strafford 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 | — | #73 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | Strafford School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.