Compare towns
Madison vs Strafford vs New Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
New Durham has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
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 | Strafford | New Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,680 |
1,372Lowest |
2,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7 29% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
46.5±7.5Lowest 20% 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%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest 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%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| New Durham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest 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±$11k 27% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$100,194±$13kLowest 24% 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±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$339,400±$27kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$1,417±$116 about the U.S. average |
| Madison and New Durham 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. |
$5,774 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±42.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and New Durham 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 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 7 photos → | 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.