Compare towns
Salem vs Mapleton vs Sidney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
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 | Salem | Mapleton | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
1,884Lowest |
4,790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
| Salem and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% 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 | $473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
| Salem and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$2,474 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Sidney 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | — | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Salem School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | Salem High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.