Compare towns
Madison vs Norwich 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 most affordable homes ($389k median).
Norwich has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Norwich | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,680Lowest |
3,640Highest |
3,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% 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%±6.7 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Madison 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% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich 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. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21k 54% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Dunbarton 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. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Madison and Norwich 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,233 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest 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% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich 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 | — | #1 of 70 in VT | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Madison School District | Norwich School District | 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.