Dunbarton is a small, rural town in Merrimack County between Concord and Manchester, with no traditional commercial center. The town's forested hills and low density have kept it one of the quieter communities in the region despite its central location.

Dunbarton's rural roads connect scattered residential neighborhoods, with the Kuncanowet Town Forest offering hiking close to home. Most shopping and services require a drive into Concord, Goffstown, or Bow.

Housing in Dunbarton consists mostly of single-family homes on larger, wooded lots, drawing families and commuters who want rural privacy within a short drive of two of the state's largest job centers.