Compare towns
Mapleton vs Rochester vs Salem vs Chapman
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).
Rochester has the most renters (34% rent).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% 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 | Rochester | Salem | Chapman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
33,144Highest |
30,964 |
388Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
45.7±11.4Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Chapman and Salem 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% |
18.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chapman 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% |
19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chapman 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±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$93,125±$17k 15% above U.S. |
| Salem and Chapman 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. |
$279,100±$10k 16% below U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$185,700±$22kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,369±$72 3% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,334 71% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$1,850 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rochester and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Rochester 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Rochester School District | Salem School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding High School | Salem High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.2Highest |
11.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.