Compare towns
Fitzwilliam vs Thornton 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).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Madison has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
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 | Thornton | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,278Lowest |
2,799Highest |
2,680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±4.2Lowest 14% above NH |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
50.3±9.7 16% above NH |
| Thornton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madison and Fitzwilliam 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% |
19%±4.9Lowest 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% |
46.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.8 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Thornton 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±$11k about the NH average |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
$102,697±$11kHighest 4% above NH |
| Madison and Fitzwilliam 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 |
$351,900±$20k 13% below NH |
$388,700±$36kHighest 3% below NH |
| Madison and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,556±$256Highest 4% above NH |
| Madison and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,173Highest 22% below NH |
$5,032 25% below NH |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±51.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Lowest 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% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2% NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 48% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton 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 | — | #18 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | Thornton 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.