What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madison has the shortest commute (22 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Madison	Dunbarton
People
Population	2,680Lowest	3,097Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH	48±3.7Lowest 11% 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	23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2%	19.8%±3.8Lowest 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+	23.1%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1%	20.4%±4.3Lowest 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+	37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%	39.6%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%	3.8%±2Highest NH: 6%
	Dunbarton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,697±$11kLowest 4% above NH	$124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH
	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 3% below NH	$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,556±$256Highest 4% above NH	$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,074Lowest 39% below NH	$8,233Highest 23% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2%	54.7%±60.7Lowest 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	4.7%Highest NH: 7.2%	3%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%	95.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH	1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 17% below NH	34 minHighest 25% above NH
Work from home	8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8%	12.6%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8%
	Dunbarton and Madison 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	Dunbarton School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.