Compare towns
Franklin vs Mapleton vs Strafford vs Hancock
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 the most renters (23.2% rent).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
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 | Strafford | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,628Lowest |
1,884 |
4,306Highest |
2,518 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±9.3 18% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
56.3±6.4Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.6%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hancock and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Mapleton 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. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$72,285±$5k 10% below U.S. |
| Strafford 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. |
$427,900±$29kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$276,800±$51k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $888±$306 37% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
$1,171±$65 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,231 28% below U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,086Highest 95% above U.S. |
$1,869 40% below 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% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±15.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Hancock 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% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford 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 | — | — | #73 of 120 in NH | #117 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Strafford School District | Hancock Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None 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.