Compare towns
Fitzwilliam vs Bow vs Madison vs Jaffrey
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fitzwilliam has the oldest housing (typical home built 1967).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Madison has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k 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 | Fitzwilliam | Bow | Madison | Jaffrey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,278Lowest |
8,335Highest |
2,680 |
5,448 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5% NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±4.2 14% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH |
42.9±3.9 about the NH average |
| Madison and Fitzwilliam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27%±3.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
18.5%±3.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Fitzwilliam and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
31.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.8 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,735±$11k about the NH average |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$102,697±$11k 4% above NH |
$92,330±$18kLowest 7% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $305,900±$34k 24% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$388,700±$36k 3% below NH |
$245,500±$27kLowest 39% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,556±$256Highest 4% above NH |
$962±$202Lowest 35% below NH |
| Madison and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,173 22% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
$6,196 7% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±51.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46 NH: 48.2% |
45.7%±23 NH: 48.2% |
| Fitzwilliam and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
81.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 48% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
7.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Fitzwilliam 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | — | #87 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | Bow School District | Madison School District | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town | Conant Middle High School (H) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Lowest |
— | 21.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.