What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madison has the most kids (23.1% under 18).

Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).

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	Madison	Bridgewater
People
Population	2,680Highest	1,169Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50.3±9.7Lowest 16% above NH	58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH
	Bridgewater and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2%	10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	23.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1%	33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±2.1Highest NH: 6%	1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%
	Madison and Bridgewater 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	$82,361±$9kLowest 17% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$388,700±$36kLowest 3% below NH	$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average
	Bridgewater 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	$1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH
	Madison and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,074Highest 39% below NH	$2,823Lowest 58% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2%	32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Madison and Bridgewater 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%	11.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.4%Highest NH: 72.8%	79.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH	1979Lowest same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 17% below NH	30 minHighest 13% above NH
Work from home	8%±4.4 NH: 16.8%	8%±3.3 NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	Madison School District	Newfound Area School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.