What stands out worked out from the figures below

Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).

Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).

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	Franconia	Madbury
People
Population	1,060Lowest	2,203Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	55.6±7Highest 28% above NH	37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH
Kids under 18	15.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 18.2%	29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1%	14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	52.6%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±5.4Highest NH: 6%	3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%
	Franconia and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH	$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$530,300±$96kHighest 32% above NH	$476,900±$31kLowest 18% above NH
	Franconia and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,281±$278Lowest 14% below NH	$1,574±$759Highest 6% above NH
	Madbury and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,451Lowest 12% above NH	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2%	16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Franconia and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.4%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH	1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 25% below NH	25 minHighest 5% below NH
Work from home	11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	14%±3.6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Madbury and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Lafayette Regional School District	Oyster River Coop 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.