Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Madison vs Rye
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).
Rye has the most people working from home (30.9%).
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 | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097 |
2,680Lowest |
5,611Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Lowest 11% above NH |
50.3±9.7 16% above NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
| Rye 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%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Lowest 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% |
23.1%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye 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% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Dunbarton and Rye 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 |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
| Rye 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 |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,556±$256 4% above NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
| Rye and Madison 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 |
$7,519 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
94.4% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #33 of 120 in NH | — | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Madison School District | Rye 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.