Compare towns
Madison vs Townsend vs Conway
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 the most homeowners (94.4%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Conway has the most people working from home (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 | Townsend | Conway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,680Lowest |
9,100 |
10,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7 29% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
55±4.1Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Conway 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% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Madison and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Conway 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. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$64,385±$8kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$314,000±$43kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,095±$141Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Madison and Townsend 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. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,087 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.3%±13.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Madison and Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Conway and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #76 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Madison School District | North Middlesex | Conway School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Kennett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
11.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.