Compare towns

Mapleton vs Union vs Northfield 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).
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).
Northfield has the most expensive homes ($289k median).
Franklin has the oldest population (median age 46).

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.

MeasureMapletonUnionNorthfieldFranklin
People
Population
1,884
2,663
4,971Highest
1,628Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±6
7% above U.S.
41.6±5.3Lowest
7% above U.S.
42.6±5.1
10% above U.S.
46±9.3Highest
18% above U.S.
Franklin and Northfield 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%
24.9%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.3%±4.9
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9Lowest
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%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
21.4%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±3.6Lowest
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%
34.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Northfield and Mapleton 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.
$80,724±$9k
about the U.S. average
$92,917±$15kHighest
15% above U.S.
$65,455±$16kLowest
19% below U.S.
Northfield 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.
$267,600±$42k
20% below U.S.
$288,500±$33kHighest
13% below U.S.
$245,800±$59k
26% below U.S.
Northfield and Union 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.
$1,179±$452Highest
17% below U.S.
$1,076±$182
24% below U.S.
$888±$306
37% below U.S.
Union and Northfield 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.
$3,276
5% above U.S.
$5,097Highest
63% above U.S.
$2,231
28% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.7%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
24.6%±19.8
U.S.: 51.1%
24.1%±14.1
U.S.: 51.1%
36.7%±27.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Franklin and Union 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%
10.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
15.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
76.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr 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 min
5% above U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
26 minLowest
3% below U.S.
29 min
10% above U.S.
Work from home
10.8%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
15.9%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.9%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.2%±5.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Union and Franklin 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 — — #109 of 120 in NH —
School district RSU 79/MSAD 01 RSU 40/MSAD 40 Winnisquam Regional School District —
High school in town None in town None in town None in town —
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.