What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Stoddard has the oldest population (median age 53).

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	Stoddard
People
Population	2,203Highest	1,072Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.3%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH	53±4Highest 22% above NH
Kids under 18	29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2%	17.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1%	24.4%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.6%Highest NH: 40.6%	34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%	3.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6%
	Stoddard and Madbury 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	$94,904±$11kLowest 4% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH	$330,300±$20kLowest 18% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,574±$759Highest 6% above NH	$895±$751Lowest 40% below NH
	Madbury and Stoddard 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	$4,316Lowest 35% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	52.6%±100Highest NH: 48.2%
	Stoddard and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.9%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 5% below NH	34 minHighest 25% above NH
Work from home	14%±3.6Highest NH: 16.8%	9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Madbury and Stoddard 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	Stoddard 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.