Compare towns
Sutton vs Exeter vs Dunbarton vs Madison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Dunbarton has the most expensive homes ($484k median).
Madison has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
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 | Sutton | Exeter | Dunbarton | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,239Lowest |
16,151Highest |
3,097 |
2,680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.1±4.1 11% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
48±3.7 11% above NH |
50.3±9.7Highest 16% 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 | 20.5%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madison and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $130,313±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$102,697±$11kLowest 4% 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 | $362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
$388,700±$36k 3% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,656±$614 11% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,556±$256 4% above NH |
| Exeter and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,652 15% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Madison and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
94.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.8%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Kearsarge Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dunbarton School District | Madison School District |
| High school in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.