Compare towns
Madison vs Bow vs Tuftonboro
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Tuftonboro has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
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 | Tuftonboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,680 |
8,335Highest |
2,569Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7 16% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
51.9±7.5Highest 20% above NH |
| Tuftonboro 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% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest 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% |
27.8%±6.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Tuftonboro and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest 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 |
$100,574±$16kLowest about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,700±$36kLowest 3% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$462,300±$46k 15% above NH |
| Bow and Tuftonboro 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 |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,311±$358Lowest 12% below 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 |
$3,004Lowest 55% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
6.5%±28.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Madison and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.3%±8.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Tuftonboro 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 | Governor Wentworth Regional 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.