Compare towns
Conway vs Hanover 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 affordable homes ($314k median).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Madison has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,141 |
11,685Highest |
2,680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55±4.1Highest 27% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
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% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madison and Hanover 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% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,385±$8kLowest 35% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$102,697±$11k 4% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $314,000±$43kLowest 22% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$388,700±$36k 3% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,095±$141Lowest 27% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,556±$256 4% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,087 39% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±13.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Madison and Hanover 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% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 23% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
22 minHighest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #76 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Conway School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Madison School District |
| High school in town | Kennett High School | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.