Compare towns
Madison vs Ware 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 highest household income ($103k).
Ware has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Conway has the oldest population (median age 55).
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 | Ware | Conway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,680Lowest |
10,048 |
10,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7 29% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% 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% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
12.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Madison and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%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% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Conway and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,697±$11kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$64,385±$8kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,700±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$314,000±$43k 6% below U.S. |
| Madison and Conway 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. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,095±$141 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,074Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$4,237Highest 36% above U.S. |
$4,087 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.3%±13.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Madison and Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Conway and Ware 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #76 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Madison School District | Ware | Conway School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Kennett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| 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.