Compare towns
Hancock vs Mapleton vs Unity vs Franconia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Unity has the most homeowners (94.5%).
Franconia has the shortest commute (20 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 | Hancock | Mapleton | Unity | Franconia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,791 |
1,884Highest |
1,375 |
1,060Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5 38% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
55.6±7 43% above U.S. |
| Unity and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7 U.S.: 17.2% |
36.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franconia and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,208±$15kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$87,292±$28kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$22k 31% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$530,300±$96kHighest 59% above U.S. |
| Franconia and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650 15% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,281±$278 9% below U.S. |
| Unity and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884 121% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,394 73% above U.S. |
$7,451Highest 139% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±74.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franconia and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hancock and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Unity School District | Lafayette Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.