Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Dunbarton vs Madison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Dunbarton has the most people working from home (12.6%).
Madison has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Bridgewater | Dunbarton | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
3,097Highest |
2,680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% NH: +4.6% |
+9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
48±3.7Lowest 11% above NH |
50.3±9.7 16% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madison and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Dunbarton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,361±$9kLowest 17% below NH |
$124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
$102,697±$11k 4% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,600±$65k about the NH average |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
$388,700±$36kLowest 3% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,166±$70 22% below NH |
$1,556±$256Highest 4% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$8,233Highest 23% above NH |
$4,074 39% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Madison and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
94.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Dunbarton and Bridgewater 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 | Newfound Area School District | Dunbarton School District | Madison School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.