Compare towns
Jefferson vs Mapleton vs Unity vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
Mapleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).
Unity has the most homeowners (94.5%).
Lancaster has the shortest commute (23 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 | Jefferson | Mapleton | Unity | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,013Lowest |
1,884 |
1,375 |
3,216Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±9.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,700±$92kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24k 35% below U.S. |
| Jefferson and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$156 39% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
| Unity and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,196 35% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Unity and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson and Lancaster 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 | — | — | — | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Unity School District | White Mountains Regional School District |
| 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.