Compare towns
Mapleton vs Augusta vs Laconia 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 highest household income ($92k).
Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Laconia has the most expensive homes ($340k median).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Augusta | Laconia | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884Lowest |
19,077Highest |
17,085 |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
45.3±3.9Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Laconia and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.9Lowest 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% |
21.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Laconia and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$73,218±$12k 9% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Mapleton and Union 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. |
$201,000±$18k 40% below U.S. |
$340,300±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$919±$79 35% below U.S. |
$1,224±$107Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Laconia and Union 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. |
$2,465 21% below U.S. |
$4,484Highest 44% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±10.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Laconia and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
19 min 29% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Augusta 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 | — | #119 of 133 in ME | #105 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Laconia School District | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Cony | Laconia High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 17.9Highest |
10.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.