Compare towns
Madison vs Bow 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Bow | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,680 |
8,335Highest |
1,494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7 16% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
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% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow 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% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow 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±$11k 4% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$66,136±$14kLowest 33% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,700±$36kLowest 3% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$389,000±$43k 3% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,556±$256Highest 4% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
— |
| Madison and Bow 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 |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$3,478Lowest 48% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±46 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest 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% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.5%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Madison School District | Bow School District | Freedom School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.