Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Hanover 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Hanover has the most people working from home (26.7%).
Madison has the most affordable homes ($389k median).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097 |
8,479Highest |
2,680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 11% above NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% 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% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest 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% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest 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% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$102,697±$11kLowest 4% above NH |
| Hanover 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 |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$388,700±$36kLowest 3% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,556±$256 4% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233 23% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Madison 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% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #33 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | — | Madison School District |
| High school 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.