Compare towns
Madison vs Exeter vs Dunbarton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).
Dunbarton has the highest household income ($124k).
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 | Exeter | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,680Lowest |
16,151Highest |
3,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
48±3.7 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 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%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Madison 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% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| Exeter 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±$11kLowest 4% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Exeter 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 |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,556±$256 4% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Exeter and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Madison and Exeter 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Madison School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.