Compare towns
Madison vs Middlesex 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).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Middlesex | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,680 |
1,943Lowest |
3,097Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Madison and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Madison and Middlesex 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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 27% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,700±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Madison and Middlesex 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. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 History | 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.