Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Appleton vs Madison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
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 | Dunbarton | Appleton | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097Highest |
1,360Lowest |
2,680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Lowest 23% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Madison and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Madison and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.1%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunbarton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$102,697±$11k 27% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$388,700±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70 17% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,074 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.2%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dunbarton and Appleton 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 | Dunbarton School District | Appleton Public Schools | Madison School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.