Compare towns
Mapleton vs Mason vs Rochester 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).
Mason has the most expensive homes ($384k median).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Union has the youngest population (median age 41.6).
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 | Mason | Rochester | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
1,451Lowest |
33,144Highest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Mason and Rochester 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% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Union 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% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Rochester 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% |
39.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Rochester 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. |
$111,090±$3kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$80,836±$3k about the U.S. average |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Mason 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. |
$384,000±$21kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$279,100±$10k 16% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,369±$72 3% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$7,049Highest 126% above U.S. |
$5,334 71% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Rochester 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mason and Union 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 | — | — | #98 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Mason School District | Rochester School District | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Spaulding High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.2 |
— |
| 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.