What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k median).

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	Waterville
People
Population	2,203Highest	680Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S.	49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S.
Kids under 18	29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22%	20.4%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Madbury and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	14.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Waterville and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Waterville 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 84% above U.S.	$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$476,900±$31kHighest 43% above U.S.	$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,574±$759Highest 11% above U.S.	$1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S.
	Madbury and Waterville 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 221% above U.S.	$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±27.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Waterville and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.9% U.S.: 12.5%	4.9% U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.	38 minHighest 42% above U.S.
Work from home	14%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Madbury and Waterville 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	Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.