Compare towns
Eaton vs Madison vs Center Harbor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eaton has the most people working from home (24.4%).
Madison has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Center Harbor has the most expensive homes ($464k median).
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 | Eaton | Madison | Center Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 501Lowest |
2,680Highest |
955 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 59.6±14 38% above NH |
50.3±9.7Lowest 16% above NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
| Center Harbor and Eaton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.6%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4 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+ | 41.3%±15.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Eaton and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
47.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±2.9 NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Madison and Eaton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,063±$9kLowest 20% below NH |
$102,697±$11k 4% above NH |
$104,313±$16kHighest 5% 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 | $377,300±$62kLowest 6% below NH |
$388,700±$36k 3% below NH |
$463,800±$74kHighest 15% above 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 | $4,014Lowest 40% below NH |
$4,074 39% below NH |
$4,667Highest 30% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4 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 | 11%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
94.4% NH: 72.8% |
91%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 24.4%±12.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Eaton and Center Harbor 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 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.