Compare towns
Madison vs Cornish vs Wolfeboro
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 most kids (23.1% under 18).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Cornish | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,680 |
1,816Lowest |
6,571Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7Lowest 16% above NH |
54±8.3 25% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Cornish 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% |
14.4%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madison and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Wolfeboro 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±$11kHighest 4% above NH |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Madison and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,700±$36k 3% below NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,556±$256Highest 4% above NH |
$1,221±$227 18% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Madison and Cornish 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 |
$5,796Highest 13% below NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Madison and Cornish 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
94.1% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
24 minHighest 9% below NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Madison School District | Cornish School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.