Compare towns
Conway vs Sunapee 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%).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
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.
| Measure | Conway | Sunapee | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,141Highest |
3,416 |
2,680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55±4.1 27% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
50.3±9.7Lowest 16% above NH |
| Sunapee 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% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 35.1%±5.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1 NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Conway and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Conway and Sunapee 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 |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
$102,697±$11kHighest 4% above NH |
| Madison and Sunapee 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 |
$393,000±$51kHighest about the NH average |
$388,700±$36k 3% below NH |
| Sunapee 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 |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
$1,556±$256 4% above NH |
| Sunapee and Madison 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 |
$4,400Highest 34% below NH |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±13.9 NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.9% NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 23% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±4.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Conway and Sunapee 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Conway School District | Sunapee School District | Madison School District |
| High school in town | Kennett High School | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.