Compare towns
Madison vs Sutton vs Webster vs Freedom
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Sutton has the highest household income ($130k).
Webster has the youngest population (median age 44.7).
Freedom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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 | Sutton | Webster | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,680Highest |
2,239 |
2,227 |
1,494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7 16% above NH |
48.1±4.1 11% above NH |
44.7±7.6Lowest 3% above NH |
60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH |
| Freedom 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% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±8 NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madison and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.1%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% NH: 40.6% |
44.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6Highest NH: 6% |
3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sutton and Webster 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 |
$130,313±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
$107,171±$14k 8% above NH |
$66,136±$14kLowest 33% below NH |
| Sutton and Webster 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 |
$362,600±$16k 10% below NH |
$338,500±$30kLowest 16% below NH |
$389,000±$43kHighest 3% below NH |
| Freedom 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 |
$1,656±$614Highest 11% above NH |
$1,396±$622Lowest 6% below NH |
— |
| Sutton 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 |
$7,652Highest 15% above NH |
$6,021 10% below NH |
$3,478Lowest 48% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±46 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71 NH: 48.2% |
79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Freedom and Madison 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% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
9.6% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% NH: 72.8% |
95.7% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
29 min 10% above NH |
31 minHighest 14% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
18.5%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Freedom and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Madison School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | Merrimack Valley School District | Freedom School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.