Compare towns
Mapleton vs Salem vs Berwick
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).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
Berwick has the most renters (27% rent).
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 | Salem | Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,884Lowest |
30,964Highest |
1,998 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
42.6±3.6 10% above U.S. |
| Salem and Berwick 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% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±12.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Mapleton 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% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Salem 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. |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$81,406±$39kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Salem 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. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$323,300±$36k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,041±$901 26% below U.S. |
| Salem and Berwick 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. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$3,806 22% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.9%±45.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Berwick 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% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Berwick 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 | — | #38 of 120 in NH | #101 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Salem School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.