Compare towns
Mapleton vs Laconia vs Unity 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).
Laconia has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Laconia | Unity | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
17,085Highest |
1,375Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
45.3±3.9 16% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest 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% |
22.8%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest 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±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$73,218±$12kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Mapleton and Unity 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 |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,224±$107 13% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% 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 | $1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,484 44% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±10.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 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 | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%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. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Laconia 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 | Unity School District | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Laconia High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— | — |
| 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.