What stands out worked out from the figures below

Francestown has the most people working from home (27.4%).

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.

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

Measure	Francestown	Madison
People
Population	1,398Lowest	2,680Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH	50.3±9.7Lowest 16% above NH
	Francestown and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2%	23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2%
	Madison and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.7%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1%	23.1%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Madison and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.1Highest NH: 6%	1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Francestown and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,063±$16kHighest 5% above NH	$102,697±$11kLowest 4% above NH
	Francestown and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$408,200±$34kHighest about the NH average	$388,700±$36kLowest 3% below NH
	Francestown and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,358±$256Lowest 9% below NH	$1,556±$256Highest 4% above NH
	Madison and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,014Highest 20% above NH	$4,074Lowest 39% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±77Lowest NH: 48.2%	69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2%
	Madison and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.3%Highest NH: 72.8%	94.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	42 minHighest 57% above NH	22 minLowest 17% below NH
Work from home	27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8%	8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	Contoocook Valley 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.