Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Chester 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
Chester has the most people working from home (16.4%).
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 | Chester | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097 |
5,300Highest |
2,680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 11% above NH |
47.2±3.8Lowest 9% 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% |
19.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Lowest 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% |
41.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Chester 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 26% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$102,697±$11kLowest 4% above NH |
| Chester and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$388,700±$36kLowest 3% below NH |
| Chester 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 |
— | $1,556±$256Highest 4% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233 23% above NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Madison and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 25% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Chester 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Chester School District | Madison School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.