What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madison has the shortest commute (22 min average).

Salisbury has the most people working from home (23.3%).

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	Salisbury
People
Population	2,680Highest	1,609Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50.3±9.7Lowest 16% above NH	51.5±4.5Highest 19% above NH
	Salisbury 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%	20.1%±9.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Madison and Salisbury 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%	24.9%±4Highest NH: 20.1%
	Salisbury and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	37.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%	2%±1.1Highest NH: 6%
	Salisbury 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	$111,591±$17kHighest 13% above NH
	Salisbury 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±$36kHighest 3% below NH	$363,400±$47kLowest 10% below NH
	Madison and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,556±$256Lowest 4% above NH	$1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH
	Salisbury 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	$5,859Highest 12% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2%	0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Madison and Salisbury 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%	7.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%	96.9%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982 3 yrs newer than NH	1982 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 17% below NH	32 minHighest 20% above NH
Work from home	8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8%	23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	Madison School District	Merrimack Valley 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.