Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Madison vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097 |
2,680Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Madison and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$102,697±$11kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$388,700±$36kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Madison and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,074Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dunbarton and Townsend 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Madison School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.