Compare towns

Franklin vs Rochester vs Mapleton 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 people working from home (12.2%).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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.

MeasureFranklinRochesterMapletonHancock
People
Population
1,628Lowest
33,144Highest
1,884
2,518
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46±9.3
18% above U.S.
43±1.8
11% above U.S.
41.8±6Lowest
7% above U.S.
56.3±6.4Highest
45% above U.S.
Hancock and Franklin 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%
18.2%±1.7
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.9%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Mapleton and Rochester 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%
19.6%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
18.3%±3.1Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
27.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Mapleton and Rochester 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.
$80,836±$3k
about the U.S. average
$91,731±$25kHighest
14% above U.S.
$72,285±$5k
10% below U.S.
Mapleton and Rochester 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.
$279,100±$10kHighest
16% below U.S.
$191,800±$23kLowest
42% below U.S.
$276,800±$51k
17% below U.S.
Rochester and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$888±$306
37% below U.S.
$1,369±$72Highest
3% below U.S.
$610±$277Lowest
57% below U.S.
$1,171±$65
17% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,231
28% below U.S.
$5,334Highest
71% above U.S.
$1,789Lowest
43% below U.S.
$1,869
40% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
36.7%±27.8
U.S.: 51.1%
46.3%±7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42%±15.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Rochester 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%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
76.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
66%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
10% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 min
5% above U.S.
29 minHighest
10% above U.S.
Work from home
12.2%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.8%±2.1
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
5.1%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Franklin and Rochester 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 — #98 of 120 in NH — #117 of 133 in ME
School district — Rochester School District RSU 79/MSAD 01 Hancock Public Schools
High school in town — Spaulding High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.2
— —
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.