Compare towns
Mapleton vs Laconia vs East Machias
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).
Laconia has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
East Machias has the most kids (23.3% 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 | Laconia | East Machias |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,884 |
17,085Highest |
1,223Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.3±3.9Highest 16% above U.S. |
42.8±2.9 10% above U.S. |
| Laconia and East Machias 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% |
18.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| East Machias 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% |
22.8%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Laconia and East Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and East Machias 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. |
$73,218±$12k 9% below U.S. |
$57,589±$10kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Laconia 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. |
$340,300±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
$210,800±$23k 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,224±$107Highest 13% below U.S. |
$907±$566 36% below U.S. |
| Laconia and East Machias 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. |
$4,484Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,836 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±10.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±40.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| East Machias and Laconia 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% |
12.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7%Highest 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 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
18 min 33% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.1%±3.1Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Laconia School District | East Machias Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Laconia High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.