Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Madison vs Amherst
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%).
Madison has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Madison | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097 |
2,680Lowest |
11,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 11% above NH |
50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH |
45.9±3.5Lowest 6% 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%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Madison and Amherst 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% |
23.1%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Lowest 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% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Dunbarton and Amherst 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 |
$102,697±$11kLowest 4% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
| Amherst 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 |
$388,700±$36kLowest 3% below NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
| Amherst and Dunbarton 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 |
$1,556±$256Highest 4% above NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
| Madison and Amherst 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 |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
94.4% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #33 of 120 in NH | — | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Madison School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.