Compare towns
Madison vs Bennington vs Freedom
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 the highest household income ($103k).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Freedom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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 | Bennington | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,680Highest |
1,588 |
1,494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7 16% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH |
| Freedom and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±6.7 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.1%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bennington 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 |
$83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
$66,136±$14kLowest 33% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,700±$36k 3% below NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$389,000±$43kHighest 3% below NH |
| Freedom and Madison 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 |
$1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
— |
| Madison and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,074 39% below NH |
$5,944Highest 11% below NH |
$3,478Lowest 48% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±46 NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Freedom and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91% 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 |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
18.5%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Freedom and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Madison School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Freedom School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.