Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Mapleton vs Rochester vs Madison
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 the most expensive homes ($484k median).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Rochester has the most renters (34% rent).
Madison has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Mapleton | Rochester | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097 |
1,884Lowest |
33,144Highest |
2,680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
50.3±9.7Highest 29% 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%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Madison and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.1%±5.2Highest 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% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Rochester 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
$102,697±$11k 27% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Madison 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$279,100±$10k 16% below U.S. |
$388,700±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70 17% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,369±$72 3% below U.S. |
$1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Madison and Rochester 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,334 71% above U.S. |
$4,074 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.2%±46Highest 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dunbarton and Rochester 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 | — | #98 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Rochester School District | Madison School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Spaulding High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.



