Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Madison vs Hooksett vs Strafford
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 expensive homes ($484k median).
Madison has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Strafford has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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 | Hooksett | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097 |
2,680Lowest |
15,057Highest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 11% above NH |
50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
46.3±2.1 7% 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% |
23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 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% |
23.1%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 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% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Strafford 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 26% above NH |
$102,697±$11kLowest 4% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
$388,700±$36kLowest 3% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Strafford 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±$256 4% above NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Hooksett and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233Highest 23% above NH |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$6,086 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
94.4% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 25% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Strafford and Hooksett 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Madison School District | Hooksett School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.