Compare towns
Sanbornton vs Madbury vs Northwood
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Northwood has the most affordable homes ($363k 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.
| Measure | Sanbornton | Madbury | Northwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,053 |
2,203Lowest |
4,688Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±5.4 3% below NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
42.4±7.8Highest about the NH average |
| Northwood and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.7% NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Highest NH: 6% |
| Northwood and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$41kLowest 15% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$129,375±$23k 31% above NH |
| Madbury and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $452,300±$30k 12% above NH |
$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
$363,000±$13kLowest 10% below NH |
| Madbury and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,289±$198 14% below NH |
$1,574±$759Highest 6% above NH |
$1,201±$372Lowest 19% below NH |
| Madbury and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,731Lowest 14% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,806 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.3%±23.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Sanbornton and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
89%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.8%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Northwood and Sanbornton 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 | #42 of 120 in NH | — | #24 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.