Compare towns
Franklin vs Mapleton vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k 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 | Franklin | Mapleton | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,628Lowest |
1,884 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±9.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
| Franklin and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,455±$16kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Salem and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,800±$59k 26% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $888±$306 37% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,231 28% below U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Franklin 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 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Salem School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
| 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.