What stands out worked out from the figures below

Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).

Madison has the highest household income ($103k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Effingham	Madison
People
Population	1,912Lowest	2,680Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	46.9±12.4Lowest 8% above NH	50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH
	Madison and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2%	23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2%
	Madison and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1%	23.1%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Madison and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%	37.9%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6%	1.9%±2.1Highest NH: 6%
	Madison and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,607±$14kLowest 23% below NH	$102,697±$11kHighest 4% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$322,700±$30kLowest 20% below NH	$388,700±$36kHighest 3% below NH
	Madison and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH	$1,556±$256Highest 4% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,163Highest 23% below NH	$4,074Lowest 39% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2%	69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2%
	Madison and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%	94.4%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982 3 yrs newer than NH	1982 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 18% above NH	22 minLowest 17% below NH
Work from home	16.1%±4.2Highest NH: 16.8%	8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Effingham and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Governor Wentworth Regional School District	Madison School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.