Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Madison vs South Hooksett
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 people working from home (12.6%).
Madison has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
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 | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097 |
2,680Lowest |
5,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 11% above NH |
50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below 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% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest 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% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$102,697±$11kLowest 4% above NH |
$130,000±$15kHighest 31% above NH |
| South Hooksett 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±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
$388,700±$36kLowest 3% below NH |
$433,200±$40k 8% above NH |
| Dunbarton and South Hooksett 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 |
$1,471±$217 about the NH average |
| Madison and South Hooksett 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 |
$6,801 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
94.4% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 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 |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Dunbarton and Madison 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 | — | — |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Madison School District | — |
| High school 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.