Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Hanover vs Bow 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 most homeowners (95.1%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Madison has the most affordable homes ($389k median).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Bow | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097 |
11,685Highest |
8,335 |
2,680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 11% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
41.5±2 4% 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Madison 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% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest 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% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$102,697±$11kLowest 4% above NH |
| Bow and Hanover 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 |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$388,700±$36kLowest 3% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,556±$256 4% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233 23% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Madison and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
94.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Bow 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Bow School District | Madison School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.