Compare towns
Laconia vs Mapleton vs Unity vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Laconia has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Franklin has the oldest housing (typical home built 1959).
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 | Laconia | Mapleton | Unity | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,085Highest |
1,884 |
1,375Lowest |
8,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3.9 16% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
42.7±2 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,218±$12k 9% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$71,648±$4kLowest 11% 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 | $340,300±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$262,200±$22k 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,224±$107 13% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,110±$68 21% below U.S. |
| Unity and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,484 44% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$4,886 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±10.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Laconia and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% 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% |
64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Laconia 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 | #105 of 120 in NH | — | — | #112 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Laconia School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Unity School District | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | Laconia High School | None in town | None in town | Franklin High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
— | — | 16.2Highest |
| 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.