Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Lyme 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%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Madison has the most affordable homes ($389k median).
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 | Lyme | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097Highest |
1,710Lowest |
2,680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Lowest 11% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH |
| Madison and Lyme 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% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest 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%±4.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme 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% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dunbarton and Lyme 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 |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$102,697±$11kLowest 4% above NH |
| Lyme 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 |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$388,700±$36kLowest 3% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,556±$256Highest 4% above NH |
| Madison and Lyme 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Lowest 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #33 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Lyme 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.