What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madison has the shortest commute (22 min average).

Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).

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	Brookline
People
Population	2,680Lowest	5,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+13%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH	41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH
	Madison and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.1%±6.7Lowest NH: 18.2%	26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Brookline and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.1%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1%	11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%	57.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%	6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6%
	Brookline 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±$11kLowest 4% above NH	$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$388,700±$36kLowest 3% below NH	$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,556±$256Lowest 4% above NH	$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH
	Brookline and Madison 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	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2%	23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Madison and Brookline 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%	0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%	95.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH	1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 17% below NH	33 minHighest 25% above NH
Work from home	8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8%	24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#23 of 120 in NH
School district	Madison School District	Brookline 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.