Compare towns
Sidney vs Mapleton vs Laconia vs North Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Laconia has the shortest commute (17 min average).
North Berwick has the most expensive homes ($429k 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 | Sidney | Mapleton | Laconia | North Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,790 |
1,884Lowest |
17,085Highest |
5,129 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
45.3±3.9Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.6±4.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Laconia and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±5.1 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+ | 18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Laconia and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$73,218±$12kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$101,875±$16kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| North Berwick and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$340,300±$16k about the U.S. average |
$428,500±$33kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,224±$107 13% below U.S. |
$1,105±$116 22% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474 21% below U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,484Highest 44% above U.S. |
$3,735 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±10.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.2%±28.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Berwick and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Berwick 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 | #15 of 133 in ME | — | #105 of 120 in NH | #82 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Laconia School District | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Laconia High School | Noble High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| 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.