Compare towns
Bow vs Fitzwilliam 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
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Fitzwilliam has the most affordable homes ($306k median).
Madison has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Bow | Fitzwilliam | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
2,278Lowest |
2,680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
49.2±4.2 14% above NH |
50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH |
| Madison and Fitzwilliam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Fitzwilliam and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2%±0.8 NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$100,735±$11kLowest about the NH average |
$102,697±$11k 4% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$305,900±$34kLowest 24% below NH |
$388,700±$36k 3% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
— | $1,556±$256Highest 4% above NH |
| Madison and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$5,173 22% below NH |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±51.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46 NH: 48.2% |
| Fitzwilliam and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.2% NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
39 minHighest 48% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Fitzwilliam 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Bow School District | Monadnock Regional School District | Madison School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.