Compare towns
Ossipee vs Madison vs Belmont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ossipee has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Madison has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
Belmont has the most people working from home (9.6%).
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 | Ossipee | Madison | Belmont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,521 |
2,680Lowest |
7,392Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50±4.6 15% above NH |
50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH |
47.2±3.5Lowest 9% above NH |
| Madison and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madison and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.3%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
22.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Ossipee and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.8% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Belmont and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,521±$22k 9% below NH |
$102,697±$11kHighest 4% above NH |
$69,063±$21kLowest 30% below NH |
| Madison and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,500±$23k 19% below NH |
$388,700±$36kHighest 3% below NH |
$316,300±$31kLowest 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
$1,556±$256 4% above NH |
$996±$129Lowest 33% below NH |
| Ossipee and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401 34% below NH |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
$5,585Highest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46 NH: 48.2% |
46.8%±10.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
25 min 6% below NH |
| Work from home | 5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
9.6%±3.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Belmont and Madison 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | — | #92 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Madison School District | Shaker Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Belmont High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0 |
| 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.