Compare towns

Durham vs Mapleton vs Rochester

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Rochester has the most renters (34% rent).

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.

MeasureDurhamMapletonRochester
People
Population
4,262
1,884Lowest
33,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±5.9
10% above U.S.
41.8±6Lowest
7% above U.S.
43±1.8Highest
11% above U.S.
Rochester and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.7%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Mapleton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.3%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Rochester and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
27.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Mapleton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$99,181±$5kHighest
23% above U.S.
$91,731±$25k
14% above U.S.
$80,836±$3kLowest
about the U.S. average
Durham and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$322,200±$34kHighest
3% below U.S.
$191,800±$23kLowest
42% below U.S.
$279,100±$10k
16% below U.S.
Durham and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$610±$277Lowest
57% below U.S.
$1,369±$72Highest
3% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,781
21% above U.S.
$1,789Lowest
43% below U.S.
$5,334Highest
71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25%±40.9
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.3%±7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Rochester and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
66%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
20.9%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.8%±2.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #14 of 133 in ME — #98 of 120 in NH
School district RSU 05 RSU 79/MSAD 01 Rochester School District
High school in town None in town None in town Spaulding High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
13.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.