Compare towns
Conway vs Bridgewater 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 people working from home (13.4%).
Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).
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 | Bridgewater | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,141Highest |
1,169Lowest |
2,680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55±4.1 27% above NH |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
50.3±9.7Lowest 16% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 35.1%±5.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Conway and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Conway and Madison 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 |
$82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
$102,697±$11kHighest 4% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $314,000±$43kLowest 22% below NH |
$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
$388,700±$36k 3% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Madison 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 |
$1,125±$201 25% below NH |
$1,556±$256Highest 4% above NH |
| Madison and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,087Highest 39% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$4,074 39% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±13.9 NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Madison and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
79.7% NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 23% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±4.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Conway and Bridgewater 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 | — | — |
| School district | Conway School District | Newfound Area 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.