Compare towns

Madison vs Sutton vs Webster 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Sutton has the highest household income ($130k).
Webster has the most people working from home (17.1%).
Dunbarton has the most expensive homes ($484k median).

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.

MeasureMadisonSuttonWebsterDunbarton
People
Population
2,680
2,239
2,227Lowest
3,097Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.5%
NH: +4.6%
+7.7%
NH: +4.6%
+2.2%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+9%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
50.3±9.7Highest
16% above NH
48.1±4.1
11% above NH
44.7±7.6Lowest
3% above NH
48±3.7
11% above NH
Madison and Sutton 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%
20.5%±3.8
NH: 18.2%
22.6%±8
NH: 18.2%
19.8%±3.8Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Madison and Webster 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%
21.6%±5.9
NH: 20.1%
19.4%±1.3Lowest
NH: 20.1%
20.4%±4.3
NH: 20.1%
Madison and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%
NH: 40.6%
44.3%Highest
NH: 40.6%
30.7%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
39.6%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.9%±2.1Lowest
NH: 6%
4.9%±3.6Highest
NH: 6%
3%±1.4
NH: 6%
3.8%±2
NH: 6%
Sutton 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
$130,313±$31kHighest
32% above NH
$107,171±$14k
8% above NH
$124,348±$21k
26% above NH
Sutton 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±$36k
3% below NH
$362,600±$16k
10% below NH
$338,500±$30kLowest
16% below NH
$484,100±$33kHighest
20% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,556±$256
4% above NH
$1,656±$614Highest
11% above NH
$1,396±$622
6% below NH
$1,166±$70Lowest
22% below NH
Sutton 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
$7,652
15% above NH
$6,021
10% below NH
$8,233Highest
23% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
69.2%±46Highest
NH: 48.2%
27.6%±47.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
53.6%±71
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%
NH: 7.2%
4.8%
NH: 7.2%
9.6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
3%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.4%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
95.7%
NH: 72.8%
96%Highest
NH: 72.8%
95.1%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
3 yrs newer than NH
1971Lowest
8 yrs older than NH
1979
same as NH
1990Highest
11 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
17% below NH
29 min
10% above NH
31 min
14% above NH
34 minHighest
25% above NH
Work from home
8%±4.4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
14.8%±5.6
NH: 16.8%
17.1%±3.9Highest
NH: 16.8%
12.6%±5.4
NH: 16.8%
Webster and Sutton 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 Kearsarge Regional School District Merrimack Valley School District Dunbarton School District
High school in town None in town Kearsarge Regional High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.4
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.