Compare towns
Madison vs Exeter vs Conway
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).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Conway has grown the fastest since 2010 (+96.2%).
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 | Exeter | Conway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,680Lowest |
16,151Highest |
3,879 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+96.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7 16% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
54.2±10.7Highest 25% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madison and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
36%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
8%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Conway and Exeter 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 |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$59,167±$18kLowest 40% below NH |
| Exeter and Madison 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 |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$264,900±$41kLowest 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,556±$256 4% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,041±$185Lowest 30% below NH |
| Exeter and Madison 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 |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$3,531Lowest 47% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
53%±18.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Madison and Exeter 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% |
7.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
70.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below NH |
25 minHighest 7% below NH |
17 minLowest 37% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.6%±11Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Conway and Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #76 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Madison School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.