Compare towns
Madison vs Bath vs New Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
Bath has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
New Durham has the youngest population (median age 46.5).
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.
| Measure | Madison | Bath | New Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,680 |
1,097Lowest |
2,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
0%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH |
48.6±8.6 12% above NH |
46.5±7.5Lowest 7% above NH |
| Madison and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madison and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.1%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bath and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
2.4%±2Highest NH: 6% |
1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bath and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,697±$11kHighest 4% above NH |
$67,813±$22kLowest 32% below NH |
$100,194±$13k about the NH average |
| Madison and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,700±$36kHighest 3% below NH |
$234,400±$23kLowest 42% below NH |
$339,400±$27k 16% below NH |
| Madison and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,556±$256Highest 4% above NH |
$1,438±$309 4% below NH |
$1,417±$116Lowest 5% below NH |
| Madison and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
$4,413 34% below NH |
$5,774Highest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
5.9%±61.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
25%±42.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Madison and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
35 minHighest 30% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.1%±3.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
10%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Bath and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Madison School District | Bath School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.