Compare towns
Mapleton vs Starks vs Lancaster
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
Lancaster has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Starks | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,884 |
556Lowest |
3,216Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.7±9.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
| Starks and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Lancaster 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% |
20.3%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$63,500±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Lancaster 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. |
$148,500±$27kLowest 55% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24kHighest 35% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,063±$301Highest 25% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
| Starks and Lancaster 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. |
$1,348Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$4,226Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±90.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Starks and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Mapleton 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 | — | — | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.