Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Pembroke vs Amherst vs Madison
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%).
Pembroke has the most renters (32.6% rent).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Pembroke | Amherst | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097 |
7,438 |
11,861Highest |
2,680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+2.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 11% above NH |
41.9±3.3Lowest 3% below NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
50.3±9.7Highest 16% above 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%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke 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% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±5.2Highest 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% NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dunbarton and Amherst 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 |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$102,697±$11k 4% above NH |
| Amherst 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 |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$388,700±$36k 3% below NH |
| Amherst and Dunbarton 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 |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,556±$256Highest 4% above NH |
| Madison and Amherst 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 |
$7,589 14% above NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46Highest 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% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
94.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #33 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Pembroke School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Madison School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pembroke Academy | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.