What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Strafford has the most people working from home (16.1%).

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	Strafford
People
Population	2,680Highest	1,372Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.3±9.7Lowest 29% above U.S.	51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S.
	Strafford 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%	23%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Madison and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Madison and Strafford 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 U.S.: 35.7%	53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Strafford 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 27% above U.S.	$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Strafford 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±$36kLowest 17% above U.S.	$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S.
	Strafford and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S.	$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Madison and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,074Lowest 31% above U.S.	$7,149Highest 129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Madison and Strafford 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.	23 minHighest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Strafford 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	Strafford School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.