Compare towns
Madison vs Calais vs Dunbarton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Madison | Calais | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,680 |
1,713Lowest |
3,097Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
48±3.7 23% 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 | 23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Madison and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Madison and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,697±$11k 27% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21kHighest 54% 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 | $388,700±$36kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Madison and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,074Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 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 | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Dunbarton 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 |
| School district | Madison School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.