Compare towns

Mapleton vs Brooks vs Meredith vs Washburn

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 youngest population (median age 41.8).
Brooks has the most renters (25.4% rent).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k median).

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.

MeasureMapletonBrooksMeredithWashburn
People
Population
1,884
1,208Lowest
6,758Highest
1,355
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-9.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±6Lowest
7% above U.S.
45.9±6.6
18% above U.S.
55.5±3.7Highest
43% above U.S.
48.2±7.7
24% above U.S.
Meredith and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.2%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.1%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
12.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
Mapleton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.3%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
17%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
34.2%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
27.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
26%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
6.8%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Brooks and Mapleton 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.
$59,130±$10k
27% below U.S.
$87,019±$19k
8% above U.S.
$56,196±$6kLowest
30% below U.S.
Mapleton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$191,800±$23k
42% below U.S.
$196,700±$33k
41% below U.S.
$480,100±$48kHighest
44% above U.S.
$112,900±$14kLowest
66% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$610±$277
57% below U.S.
$1,116±$112
21% below U.S.
$1,149±$304Highest
19% below U.S.
$482±$62Lowest
66% below U.S.
Meredith and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,789
43% below U.S.
$2,096
33% below U.S.
$5,006Highest
61% above U.S.
$1,571Lowest
50% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.7%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
18%±17.3
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±9.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.3%±24.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Meredith and Washburn 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%
19.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
74.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
25 min
5% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
Work from home
10.8%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
14.5%±2.9
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.7%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — — #62 of 120 in NH —
School district RSU 79/MSAD 01 RSU 03/MSAD 03 Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District RSU 45/MSAD 45
High school in town None in town None in town Inter-Lakes High School Washburn District High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.1Lowest
12.0Highest
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.