Compare towns
Madison vs South Hooksett 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).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
Dunbarton has the most people working from home (12.6%).
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 | South Hooksett | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,680Lowest |
5,902Highest |
3,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below 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% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest 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%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 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% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,697±$11kLowest 4% above NH |
$130,000±$15kHighest 31% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
| South Hooksett 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 3% below NH |
$433,200±$40k 8% above NH |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
| Dunbarton and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,556±$256Highest 4% above NH |
$1,471±$217 about the NH average |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Madison and South Hooksett 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 |
$6,801 about the NH average |
$8,233Highest 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest 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 History | None yet | 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.