Outdoor recreation and peaceful scenery draw homebuyers to Madison
Homebuyers looking to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of New Hampshire flock to Madison, a small rural town between Conway and Ossipee. “It’s a cute little town. There’s not really a downtown area per se, but the lakes are the big draw,” says Julie Chin, team lead at Rockstar Luxe with Keller Wiliams Coastal and Mountain & Lakes Realty. Multiple lakes are located within Madison, and several more surround the community. In addition to water activities, hiking and skiing are popular pastimes in this countryside town. While the natural scenery and peacefulness of the area are the main draws, shopping and dining are easily accessible in nearby towns via New Hampshire Route 113.
Rustic country homes for lower prices than nearby towns
Cabins and chalets make up much of the community, often on lots with tall, leafy trees that make it hard to see the neighbors. Cape Cods and ranch-style houses are also common. The town has little development, and winding country roads add to the rustic feel. There are two main communities within Madison: Silver Lake in the south and Eidelweiss in the north. Neither of these areas have mandatory homeowners associations, but Eidelweiss has an option property owner’s association that organizes community events and maintains recreational facilities. Most homes in Madison have private wells and septic systems. The median sales price is around $430,000, slightly lower than in Conway.
Fishing, hiking and winter sports are all close to home
Madison’s lakes are among its biggest attractions. Silver Lake is a 969-acre spot in the town’s south end, with three public beaches and one private beach for swimming. A boat launch at the lake’s south end offers a spot to put in canoes, kayaks or motorboats. Anglers can cast a line in hopes of reeling in smallmouth bass or rainbow trout. The Eidelweiss area has three small lakes with several beaches for swimming, paddling or fishing. Madison Boulder Natural Area is a state park that’s home to a nearly 6,000-ton boulder. The rock is known as a glacier erratic, a boulder that was moved from its original location by a glacier. Madison Boulder is estimated to be about 85 feet long and 23 feet tall. The town has several other hiking trails through wooded areas and along babbling brooks, ranging from ¼-mile to just over 3 miles. With 78 inches of average annual snowfall, outdoor activity continues in the winter at King Pine Ski Area, which offers downhill and cross-country skiing, snowtubing and ice skating.
Nearby towns offer groceries, outlets and local cuisine
Commercial activity in Madison is limited to the post office and a few industrial stores, although there is one restaurant on the edge of town. “Traditions is a little restaurant with a bar, and they do different specials. They have an Oktoberfest menu coming up and they do breakfast too,” Chin says. This casual spot is on Eaton Road, just south of the ski area. Othe options are nearby in Ossipee . Hobbs Tavern & Brewing Company is known for its craft beer and elevated pub fare, while Jake’s Seafood has been named one of the best seafood spots in the state. Residents can head north to Conway to grab groceries at Shaw’s, Walmart or Hannaford. Settlers Green Outlet Village is an outdoor mall with stores like Gap, Adidas and Eddie Bauer.
Madison students attend schools in town and Conway
Madison Elementary School serves the community and gets a C from Niche. Kennett Middle School and Kennett High School are each located in Conway. The middle school receives a C rating while the high school earns a B-minus. High schoolers can take career and technical education courses in aviation, criminal justice and computer science. The school also offers several Advanced Placement classes and dual enrollment options through local community colleges.
Main roads offer easy access to Conway and local services
Route 113 is the main road through town, while routes 16 and 153 are also nearby. Conway is about a 7-mile drive from the center of the community via Route 113. MaineHealth Memorial Hospital is about 15 miles north.
Written By
Matthew Atkins
