Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Castleton vs Hooksett 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 the most expensive homes ($484k median).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Madison has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
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 | Castleton | Hooksett | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097 |
4,453 |
15,057Highest |
2,680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.5 6% 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% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest 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%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Madison and Castleton 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% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$102,697±$11k 27% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Hooksett 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. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$388,700±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70 17% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,556±$256 10% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$4,074 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Madison and Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Hooksett School District | Madison School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.