Compare towns
Strafford vs Madison vs Hampstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
Madison has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Hampstead has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Strafford | Madison | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306 |
2,680Lowest |
9,102Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH |
45.3±6.1Lowest 5% above NH |
| Madison and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Madison and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Madison and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
$102,697±$11kLowest 4% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Strafford and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$388,700±$36kLowest 3% below NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,556±$256 4% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Strafford and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086 9% below NH |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead and Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | — | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Madison School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.