What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plymouth has the most expensive homes ($292k median).

Mapleton has the oldest population (median age 41.8).

Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Plymouth	Mapleton
People
Population	6,601Highest	1,884Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	24.6±3.4Lowest 37% below U.S.	41.8±6Highest 7% above U.S.
Kids under 18	13.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Mapleton and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	12%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	33.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,027±$26kLowest 5% below U.S.	$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S.
	Mapleton and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$292,400±$22kHighest 12% below U.S.	$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,108±$255Highest 22% below U.S.	$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S.
	Plymouth and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,288Highest 102% above U.S.	$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.8%±11.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plymouth and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 30% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	11.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Plymouth 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	#47 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District	RSU 79/MSAD 01
High school in town	Plymouth Regional High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.