What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madison has the most expensive homes ($389k median).

Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Madison	Waterville
People
Population	2,680Highest	680Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S.	49.1±8.2Lowest 26% above U.S.
	Madison and Waterville 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%	20.4%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Madison and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Waterville 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±$11kHighest 27% above U.S.	$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S.
	Madison and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$388,700±$36kHighest 17% above U.S.	$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S.	$1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,074Highest 31% above U.S.	$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±27.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Madison and Waterville 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%	4.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 16% below U.S.	38 minHighest 42% above U.S.
Work from home	8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	8.5%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Waterville and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Madison School District	Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.