Compare towns
Mapleton vs Salem vs Union vs Franklin
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).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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 | Union | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
30,964Highest |
2,663 |
1,628Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46±9.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Franklin 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% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 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% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franklin and Union 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% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.6 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. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$65,455±$16kLowest 19% 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±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$245,800±$59k 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$888±$306 37% below U.S. |
| Salem and Union 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. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$2,231 28% below 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% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Franklin 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% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Union 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 | — | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Salem School District | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— | — |
| 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.