Compare towns
Madison vs Surry vs Tuftonboro
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).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Tuftonboro has the most expensive homes ($462k 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 | Surry | Tuftonboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,680Highest |
1,052Lowest |
2,569 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7 16% above NH |
44.7±5.1Lowest 3% above NH |
51.9±7.5Highest 20% above NH |
| Tuftonboro 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% |
20.8%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madison and Surry 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% |
23.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±6.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Tuftonboro and Surry 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% |
31.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Surry 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 4% above NH |
$110,125±$25kHighest 11% above NH |
$100,574±$16kLowest about the NH average |
| Surry 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 |
$331,400±$23kLowest 18% below NH |
$462,300±$46kHighest 15% above NH |
| Tuftonboro and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,556±$256 4% above NH |
$1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
$1,311±$358Lowest 12% below NH |
| Surry 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 |
$6,384Highest 4% below NH |
$3,004Lowest 55% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3 NH: 48.2% |
6.5%±28.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Madison and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.3%±8.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Surry and Tuftonboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Madison School District | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.