Compare towns
Mapleton vs Rye vs Bedford 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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Union has the most kids (24.9% 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 | Rye | Bedford | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884Lowest |
5,611 |
23,746Highest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Bedford 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Bedford 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. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Bedford and Rye 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Bedford and Rye 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. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Rye 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Bedford 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 | — | #2 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Rye School District | Bedford School District | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bedford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.