Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Madison vs North Hampton vs Bow
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%).
Madison has the most affordable homes ($389k median).
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | North Hampton | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097 |
2,680Lowest |
4,543 |
8,335Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 11% above NH |
50.3±9.7 16% above NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
| North Hampton and Madison 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%±6.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest 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% |
23.1%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton 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% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Dunbarton 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 |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Bow and North Hampton 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 |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,556±$256 4% above NH |
$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| North Hampton and Madison 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 |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 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% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
94.4% NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton 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 | — | #12 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Madison School District | North Hampton School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.8 |
| 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.