Compare towns

Mapleton vs Windham vs Townsend vs Union

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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).

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.

MeasureMapletonWindhamTownsendUnion
People
Population
1,884Lowest
16,038Highest
9,100
2,663
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±6Highest
7% above U.S.
41.1±2.9
6% above U.S.
40.9±3.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
41.6±5.3
7% above U.S.
Mapleton and Union 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%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
21%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24.9%±4
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Union 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%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.1%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
21.4%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Union 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%
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Townsend 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.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
$121,528±$23k
51% above U.S.
$80,724±$9kLowest
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$191,800±$23kLowest
42% below U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
$433,200±$22k
30% above U.S.
$267,600±$42k
20% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$610±$277Lowest
57% below U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$1,469±$313
4% above U.S.
$1,179±$452
17% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,789Lowest
43% below U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,031
93% above U.S.
$3,276
5% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.7%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±16.8
U.S.: 51.1%
24.6%±19.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Windham and Townsend 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%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
Work from home
10.8%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.9%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham 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 — #13 of 120 in NH #136 of 282 in MA —
School district RSU 79/MSAD 01 Windham School District North Middlesex RSU 40/MSAD 40
High school in town None in town Windham High School North Middlesex Regional None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.8Lowest
13.1Highest
—
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.