What stands out worked out from the figures below

Baldwin has the most affordable homes ($263k median).

Madison has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Baldwin	Madison
People
Population	1,170Lowest	2,680Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.6±4.6Highest 30% above U.S.	50.3±9.7Lowest 29% above U.S.
	Baldwin and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	27.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	23.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Baldwin and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Baldwin and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,045±$8kLowest 16% below U.S.	$102,697±$11kHighest 27% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$263,200±$38kLowest 21% below U.S.	$388,700±$36kHighest 17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,556±$256 10% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,540Lowest 19% below U.S.	$4,074Highest 31% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±42.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Madison and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 23% above U.S.	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.
Work from home	8.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Baldwin and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Madison School District
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.