Compare towns
Mapleton vs Salem vs Sidney vs Washburn
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).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k median).
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 | Sidney | Washburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
30,964Highest |
4,790 |
1,355Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
48.2±7.7Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Washburn 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% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney 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% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washburn and Salem 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% |
38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.4 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. |
$83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
$56,196±$6kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| 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±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
$112,900±$14kLowest 66% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277 57% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$482±$62Lowest 66% below U.S. |
| Salem and Sidney 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. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$2,474 21% below U.S. |
$1,571Lowest 50% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Washburn 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Sidney 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 | #15 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Salem School District | RSU 18 | RSU 45/MSAD 45 |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High School | None in town | Washburn District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
— | 12.0Highest |
| 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.