Compare towns
Chapman vs Salem vs Mapleton vs Ludlow
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).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Ludlow has the most affordable homes ($134k 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 | Salem | Mapleton | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 388Lowest |
30,964Highest |
1,884 |
444 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.7±11.4 17% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.1±5.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Ludlow 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% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Chapman and Ludlow 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% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±3.1Lowest 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±$17k 15% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$62,500±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Salem and Chapman 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. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$133,900±$56kLowest 60% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$988±$111 30% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,850 41% below U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
$1,655Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±94.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ludlow and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.8%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Mapleton 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 | — | #38 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Salem School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| High school in town | — | Salem High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— | — |
| 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.