Compare towns
Walpole vs Madison 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
Walpole has the most renters (30.1% rent).
Madison has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
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 | Walpole | Madison | Ossipee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,690 |
2,680Lowest |
4,521Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4Lowest 7% above NH |
50.3±9.7Highest 16% 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 | 22.2%±5.2 NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madison and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.4 NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Ossipee and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.9% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest 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 | $82,617±$16kLowest 17% below NH |
$102,697±$11kHighest 4% above 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 | $319,800±$48kLowest 21% below NH |
$388,700±$36kHighest 3% below NH |
$325,500±$23k 19% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,556±$256 4% above 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 | $6,078Highest 9% below NH |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
$4,401 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46 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 | 11.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Madison and Walpole 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 | #27 of 120 in NH | — | #100 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Madison School District | Governor Wentworth Regional 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.