Compare towns

Madison vs Canton vs Conway

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madison has the most homeowners (94.4%).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Conway has the most affordable homes ($314k median).

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.

MeasureMadisonCantonConway
People
Population
2,680Lowest
24,748Highest
10,141
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+13%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.3±9.7
29% above U.S.
42.6±2.3Lowest
10% above U.S.
55±4.1Highest
41% above U.S.
Conway 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
U.S.: 22%
22.9%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
12.4%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Madison and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.1%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
35.1%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
67.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Conway and Canton 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
27% above U.S.
$143,381±$9kHighest
78% above U.S.
$64,385±$8kLowest
20% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$388,700±$36k
17% above U.S.
$710,600±$27kHighest
114% above U.S.
$314,000±$43kLowest
6% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,556±$256
10% above U.S.
$2,315±$178Highest
64% above U.S.
$1,095±$141Lowest
23% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,074Lowest
31% above U.S.
$6,560Highest
110% above U.S.
$4,087
31% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
69.2%±46Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.4%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
47.3%±13.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Madison and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
16% below U.S.
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
21 minLowest
22% below U.S.
Work from home
8%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.7%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±4.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #81 of 282 in MA #76 of 120 in NH
School district Madison School District Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton Conway School District
High school in town None in town Canton High Kennett High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.1Highest
11.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.