Compare towns
Fitzwilliam vs Chester 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
Fitzwilliam has the most affordable homes ($306k median).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Madison has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Chester | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,278Lowest |
5,300Highest |
2,680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±4.2 14% above NH |
47.2±3.8Lowest 9% above NH |
50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH |
| 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% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madison and Chester 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% |
17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±5.2 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.8 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Chester and Fitzwilliam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,735±$11kLowest about the NH average |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$102,697±$11k 4% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $305,900±$34kLowest 24% below NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$388,700±$36k 3% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,556±$256 4% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,173 22% below NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±51.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46 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% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
94.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 48% above NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Fitzwilliam and Chester 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 | — | #90 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | Chester School District | Madison School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.