Compare towns
Fitzwilliam vs Madison vs Strafford
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).
Madison has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Madison | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,278Lowest |
2,680 |
4,306Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5% NH: +4.6% |
+6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±4.2 14% above NH |
50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH |
46.3±2.1Lowest 7% 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% |
23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Madison and Strafford 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% |
23.1%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest 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% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.8 NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,735±$11kLowest about the NH average |
$102,697±$11k 4% above NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
| Strafford and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $305,900±$34kLowest 24% below NH |
$388,700±$36k 3% below NH |
$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
| Strafford and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,556±$256Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
| Strafford and Madison 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 |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
$6,086Highest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±51.8 NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Fitzwilliam 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2% NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 48% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Fitzwilliam and Strafford 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 | — | — | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | Madison School District | Strafford 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.