Compare towns
Franklin vs Mapleton vs Union vs Northfield
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 (35.8% rent).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Northfield has the most expensive homes ($289k 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 | Union | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,799Highest |
1,884Lowest |
2,663 |
4,971 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.6±5.1 10% above U.S. |
| Franklin and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northfield and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,648±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$92,917±$15kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Northfield and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,200±$22k 21% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$288,500±$33kHighest 13% below U.S. |
| Northfield and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$68 21% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,076±$182 24% below U.S. |
| Union and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,886 57% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$5,097Highest 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.1%±14.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franklin and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union 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 | #112 of 120 in NH | — | — | #109 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Franklin School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | Franklin High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.