What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madison has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).

Stark has the most people working from home (13.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Madison	Stark
People
Population	2,680Highest	419Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.5%Highest NH: +4.6%	-14%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50.3±9.7Lowest 16% above NH	58.8±3.6Highest 36% above NH
	Stark 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%	14.1%±6.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Madison and Stark 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%	27.2%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1%
	Stark 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%	17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%	3.6%±4.7Highest NH: 6%
	Stark 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	$71,750±$23kLowest 28% below NH
	Madison and Stark 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	$197,700±$34kLowest 51% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,556±$256 4% above NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,074Highest 39% below NH	$2,636Lowest 60% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2%	66.7%±100Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Madison and Stark 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%	8.3%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.4%Highest NH: 72.8%	92.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH	1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 17% below NH	34 minHighest 27% above NH
Work from home	8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8%	13.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8%
	Stark and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Madison School District	Stark School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.