Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Exeter vs Keene 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 highest household income ($124k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
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 | Exeter | Keene | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097 |
16,151 |
22,939Highest |
2,680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 11% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below 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% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter 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% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$102,697±$11k 4% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$388,700±$36k 3% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Exeter 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 |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,556±$256 4% above NH |
| Exeter 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 |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Madison and Exeter 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Keene 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Keene School District | Madison School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.