Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Bow vs Strafford 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
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).
Bow has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Bow | Strafford | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097 |
8,335Highest |
4,306 |
2,680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 11% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH |
| Madison and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7 NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Madison and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Strafford 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 26% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$102,697±$11kLowest 4% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$388,700±$36kLowest 3% below NH |
| 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±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,556±$256 4% above NH |
| Strafford and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233 23% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
94.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 25% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Bow School District | Strafford School District | Madison School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.