Compare towns
Mapleton vs Peterborough vs Washburn 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
Peterborough has the most expensive homes ($405k median).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k median).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Peterborough | Washburn | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
6,408Highest |
1,355Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
52.1±1.9Highest 34% above U.S. |
48.2±7.7 24% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Peterborough and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±3.5 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% |
30.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peterborough and Washburn 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% |
62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Washburn 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. |
$98,401±$8kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$56,196±$6kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Peterborough 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±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$404,500±$31kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$112,900±$14kLowest 66% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277 57% below U.S. |
$1,395±$209Highest about the U.S. average |
$482±$62Lowest 66% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Peterborough and Union 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. |
$8,655Highest 177% above U.S. |
$1,571Lowest 50% below U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Washburn and Peterborough 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% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Peterborough 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 | — | #59 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Contoocook Valley School District | RSU 45/MSAD 45 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Conval Regional High School | Washburn District High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.0 |
12.0 |
— |
| 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.