Compare towns
Bennington vs Mapleton vs Sidney vs Francestown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Francestown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
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 | Bennington | Mapleton | Sidney | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,588 |
1,884 |
4,790Highest |
1,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
51.2±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Francestown and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Francestown and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$104,063±$16kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Francestown and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15k 20% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
$408,200±$34kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150 9% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$1,358±$256Highest 4% below U.S. |
| Francestown and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944 91% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$2,474 21% below U.S. |
$8,014Highest 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±77Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Francestown and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 40% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
42 minHighest 59% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.4%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #15 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 18 | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.