Compare towns
Tuftonboro vs Surry vs Madison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Tuftonboro has the most expensive homes ($462k median).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Madison has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
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 | Tuftonboro | Surry | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,569 |
1,052Lowest |
2,680Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±7.5Highest 20% above NH |
44.7±5.1Lowest 3% above NH |
50.3±9.7 16% above NH |
| Tuftonboro and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madison and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Tuftonboro and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6% NH: 40.6% |
31.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Surry and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,574±$16kLowest about the NH average |
$110,125±$25kHighest 11% above NH |
$102,697±$11k 4% above NH |
| Surry and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $462,300±$46kHighest 15% above NH |
$331,400±$23kLowest 18% below NH |
$388,700±$36k 3% below NH |
| Tuftonboro and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,311±$358Lowest 12% below NH |
$1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
$1,556±$256 4% above NH |
| Surry and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,004Lowest 55% below NH |
$6,384Highest 4% below NH |
$4,074 39% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.5%±28.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3 NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Madison and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
91.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.3%±8.9 NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Surry and Tuftonboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | — | Madison School District |
| High school 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.