Compare towns
Rochester vs Augusta vs Mapleton vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Augusta has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
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 | Rochester | Augusta | Mapleton | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,144Highest |
19,077 |
1,884Lowest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Salem and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Augusta and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,836±$3k about the U.S. average |
$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above 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 | $279,100±$10k 16% below U.S. |
$201,000±$18k 40% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72 3% below U.S. |
$919±$79 35% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,334 71% above U.S. |
$2,465 21% below U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Augusta and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Augusta 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 | #98 of 120 in NH | #119 of 133 in ME | — | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rochester School District | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Spaulding High School | Cony | None in town | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.2 |
17.9Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| 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.