Compare towns
Franklin vs Mapleton vs Unity 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Northfield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Unity | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,799Highest |
1,884 |
1,375Lowest |
4,971 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±2 10% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
42.6±5.1 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Northfield 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest 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. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$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. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$288,500±$33kHighest 13% below U.S. |
| Northfield and Unity 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. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,076±$182 24% below U.S. |
| Unity 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. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$5,097 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.1%±14.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Unity and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest 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% |
94.5%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. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mapleton and Unity 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 | Unity School District | 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.