What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).

Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).

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	Madbury	Jackson
People
Population	2,203Highest	897Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.3%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+26%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH	60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH
Kids under 18	29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2%	4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1%	28.4%±6.4Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.6%Lowest NH: 40.6%	67.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.8Highest NH: 6%	3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6%
	Madbury and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH	$117,986±$46kLowest 19% above NH
	Madbury and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$476,900±$31kLowest 18% above NH	$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH	$1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH
	Jackson and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH	$6,001Lowest 10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	21.1%±59.9Highest NH: 48.2%
	Jackson and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%	16.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%	91.4%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH	1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 5% below NH	19 minLowest 31% below NH
Work from home	14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8%
	Jackson and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Oyster River Coop School District	Jackson 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.