Compare towns

Dunbarton vs Williston vs Madison vs Sutton

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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Madison has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k median).

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.

MeasureDunbartonWillistonMadisonSutton
People
Population
3,097
10,144Highest
2,680
2,239Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48±3.7
23% above U.S.
45.4±4.5Lowest
17% above U.S.
50.3±9.7Highest
29% above U.S.
48.1±4.1
24% above U.S.
Madison and Sutton 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%
20.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
23.1%±6.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
Madison and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.4%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
23.1%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Madison and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±3.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Williston and Sutton 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
54% above U.S.
$106,967±$12k
32% above U.S.
$102,697±$11kLowest
27% above U.S.
$130,313±$31kHighest
61% above U.S.
Sutton 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
46% above U.S.
$475,800±$40k
43% above U.S.
$388,700±$36k
17% above U.S.
$362,600±$16kLowest
9% above U.S.
Dunbarton and Williston 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.
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,556±$256
10% above U.S.
$1,656±$614
17% above U.S.
Williston and Sutton 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.
$5,592
79% above U.S.
$4,074Lowest
31% above U.S.
$7,652
145% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.7%±60.7
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
69.2%±46Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
27.6%±47.2Lowest
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%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1990
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
22 min
16% below U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
Work from home
12.6%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.8%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Williston and Sutton 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 #11 of 70 in VT — —
School district Dunbarton School District Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Madison School District Kearsarge Regional School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town Kearsarge Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school — — —
10.4
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.