Compare towns
Tamworth vs Madison vs Walpole vs Ossipee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Tamworth has the most people working from home (16.4%).
Madison has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
Walpole has the most renters (30.1% rent).
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 | Tamworth | Madison | Walpole | Ossipee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,884 |
2,680Lowest |
3,690 |
4,521Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±10.9Lowest 5% above NH |
50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH |
46.5±10.4 7% above NH |
50±4.6 15% 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 | 23.3%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7 NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Tamworth and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4 NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Tamworth and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.9% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.9% NH: 40.6% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
4%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Walpole and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,036±$20kLowest 31% below NH |
$102,697±$11kHighest 4% above NH |
$82,617±$16k 17% below NH |
$90,521±$22k 9% 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 | $366,800±$29k 9% below NH |
$388,700±$36kHighest 3% below NH |
$319,800±$48kLowest 21% below NH |
$325,500±$23k 19% below NH |
| Madison and Tamworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$184Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,556±$256 4% above NH |
$1,165±$150 22% below NH |
$1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
| Ossipee and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,474 33% below NH |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
$6,078Highest 9% below NH |
$4,401 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.6%±31.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9 NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest 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 | 9.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74% NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±11.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Tamworth 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 | #101 of 120 in NH | — | #27 of 120 in NH | #100 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Tamworth School District | Madison School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.