Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Strafford vs Madison vs Tuftonboro
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%).
Strafford has the most people working from home (15.9%).
Madison has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Tuftonboro has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
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 | Strafford | Madison | Tuftonboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097 |
4,306Highest |
2,680 |
2,569Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 11% above NH |
46.3±2.1Lowest 7% above NH |
50.3±9.7 16% above NH |
51.9±7.5Highest 20% above NH |
| Tuftonboro 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% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4.7 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% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±6.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Tuftonboro 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% |
40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
37.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Strafford 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 26% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$102,697±$11k 4% above NH |
$100,574±$16kLowest about the NH average |
| Dunbarton and Strafford 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 |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$388,700±$36kLowest 3% below NH |
$462,300±$46k 15% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Tuftonboro 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 |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,556±$256 4% above NH |
$1,311±$358 12% below NH |
| Strafford 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 |
$6,086 9% below NH |
$4,074 39% below NH |
$3,004Lowest 55% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46 NH: 48.2% |
6.5%±28.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Madison 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% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
94.4% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 25% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.3%±8.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Strafford and Tuftonboro 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Strafford School District | Madison School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.