Compare towns
Mapleton vs Alton vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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 | Mapleton | Alton | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,884Lowest |
5,994Highest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest 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+ | 18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$113,715±$19kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Alton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$430,400±$37kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
— | $1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Union and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,183Highest 34% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.7%±27.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Alton 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 | — | #72 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Prospect Mountain High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.