Compare towns
Chapman vs Lancaster vs Mapleton vs Starks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
Lancaster has the most renters (34.6% rent).
Mapleton has the most people working from home (10.8%).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k 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 | Chapman | Lancaster | Mapleton | Starks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 388Lowest |
2,230Highest |
1,884 |
556 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±11.4 17% above U.S. |
38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
46.7±9.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Starks and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Chapman and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chapman and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,125±$17kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$66,765±$20k 17% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$63,500±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Chapman and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $185,700±$22k 44% below U.S. |
$200,500±$24kHighest 40% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$148,500±$27kLowest 55% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,036±$221 27% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,063±$301Highest 25% below U.S. |
| Starks and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,850 41% below U.S. |
$4,225Highest 35% above U.S. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
$1,348Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±90.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Starks and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mapleton and Lancaster 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| High school 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.