What stands out worked out from the figures below

Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).

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	Center Harbor	Madison
People
Population	955Lowest	2,680Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+2.5%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH	50.3±9.7Lowest 16% above NH
	Center Harbor and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2%	23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2%
	Madison and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1%	23.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Center Harbor and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.1%Highest NH: 40.6%	37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	1.9%±2.1Highest NH: 6%
	Madison and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,313±$16kHighest 5% above NH	$102,697±$11kLowest 4% above NH
	Center Harbor and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,800±$74kHighest 15% above NH	$388,700±$36kLowest 3% below NH
	Center Harbor and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,556±$256 4% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,667Highest 30% below NH	$4,074Lowest 39% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2%	69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2%
	Madison and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2%Lowest NH: 7.2%	4.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91%Lowest NH: 72.8%	94.4%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982 3 yrs newer than NH	1982 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 8% below NH	22 minLowest 17% below NH
Work from home	8.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8%	8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Center Harbor 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

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.