Compare towns
Conway vs Barnstead 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
Conway has the most renters (28.8% rent).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
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 | Conway | Barnstead | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,141Highest |
4,994 |
2,680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55±4.1Highest 27% above NH |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
50.3±9.7 16% above NH |
| Conway and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madison and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.1%±5.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,385±$8kLowest 35% below NH |
$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
$102,697±$11k 4% above NH |
| Barnstead and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $314,000±$43kLowest 22% below NH |
$362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
$388,700±$36kHighest 3% below NH |
| Madison and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,095±$141Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,556±$256Highest 4% above NH |
| Madison and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,087 39% below NH |
$6,003Highest 10% below NH |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±13.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Madison and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 23% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±4.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Conway and Barnstead 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 | #76 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Conway School District | Barnstead School District | Madison School District |
| High school in town | Kennett High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
— | — |
| 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.