Compare towns
Castle Hill vs Durham vs Mapleton vs Wade
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castle Hill has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Durham has the most expensive homes ($504k median).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Wade has the oldest housing (typical home built 1951).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Castle Hill | Durham | Mapleton | Wade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 281 |
15,080Highest |
1,884 |
244Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 57.8±15.8Highest 49% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
53.6±18.5 38% above U.S. |
| Castle Hill and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±6.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 44.8%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.8%±10.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castle Hill and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±5.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,250±$14k 33% below U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$41,818±$25kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Durham and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $145,300±$18kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$157,100±$109k 53% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $950±$574 33% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
— |
| Durham and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,449Lowest 54% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
$1,655 47% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castle Hill and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| High school in town | — | Oyster River High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.