Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Gilford vs Mapleton 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%).
Gilford has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Madison has the oldest population (median age 50.3).
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 | Gilford | Mapleton | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097 |
7,830Highest |
1,884Lowest |
2,680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
48.2±3.9 24% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Madison and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Madison and Mapleton 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% |
21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Madison and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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. |
$116,635±$11k 44% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$102,697±$11k 27% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Gilford 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. |
$456,500±$56k 37% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$388,700±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70 17% below U.S. |
$1,150±$747 19% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,868 56% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,074 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.2%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Madison and Gilford 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% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gilford 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 | #45 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Gilford School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Madison School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gilford High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— | — |
| 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.