Compare towns
Rochester vs Mapleton vs Augusta vs Laconia
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%).
Mapleton has the most homeowners (79.9%).
Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Laconia has the most expensive homes ($340k 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 | Mapleton | Augusta | Laconia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,144Highest |
1,884Lowest |
19,077 |
17,085 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
45.3±3.9Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Laconia and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.9 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Laconia and Augusta 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% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$73,218±$12k 9% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Rochester 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$201,000±$18k 40% below U.S. |
$340,300±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72Highest 3% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$919±$79 35% below U.S. |
$1,224±$107 13% below U.S. |
| Rochester and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,334Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$2,465 21% below U.S. |
$4,484 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±10.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Laconia and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
19 min 29% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Augusta and Laconia 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 | #105 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rochester School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Laconia School District |
| High school in town | Spaulding High School | None in town | Cony | Laconia High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.2 |
— | 17.9Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.