Compare towns
Ascutney vs Franklin vs Mapleton vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ascutney has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Franklin has the most renters (35.8% rent).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Waltham has the most expensive homes ($330k median).
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 | Ascutney | Franklin | Mapleton | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381Lowest |
8,799Highest |
1,884 |
452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 64.4±7.3Highest 66% above U.S. |
42.7±2 10% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
60.8±7.3 56% above U.S. |
| Ascutney and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±7.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 44.9%±15 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waltham and Ascutney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
39%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,269±$46kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$71,648±$4k 11% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$97,500±$14kHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Waltham and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,800±$91k 34% below U.S. |
$262,200±$22k 21% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$329,700±$51kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Waltham and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,110±$68Highest 21% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,096±$113 22% below U.S. |
| Franklin and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,429 10% above U.S. |
$4,886 57% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,714Highest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 38.8%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±58.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franklin and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 40% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±24.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waltham and Ascutney 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 | — | #112 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Franklin School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| High school in town | — | Franklin High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 16.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.