Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Appleton vs Madison vs Bow
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 the most homeowners (95.1%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Madison has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Bow has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097 |
1,360Lowest |
2,680 |
8,335Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% 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%±6.7 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.1%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$102,697±$11k 27% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$388,700±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Bow and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70 17% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
| Madison and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233 164% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,074 31% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.2%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest 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% |
87.5% 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. |
1985 5 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. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Dunbarton 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 | — | — | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Appleton Public Schools | Madison School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.