Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Brighton 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%).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k 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 | Brighton | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097Highest |
1,167Lowest |
2,680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6Lowest 16% above U.S. |
50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7Lowest 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% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.1%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton 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% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brighton 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±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% 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. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$388,700±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70 17% below U.S. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$4,074 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Madison and Brighton 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% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dunbarton and Brighton 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 | Brighton School District | 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.