What stands out worked out from the figures below

Albion has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).

Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).

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	Albion	Mapleton
People
Population	2,204Highest	1,884Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Highest ME: +2.6%	-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	52.9±7.5Highest 18% above ME	41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME
	Albion and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 18.1%	22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	26.8%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4%	18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%	34.3%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8%
	Mapleton and Albion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,361±$23kLowest 17% below ME	$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME
	Mapleton and Albion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$230,900±$31kHighest 22% below ME	$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME
	Albion and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$610±$277 46% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,987Highest 35% below ME	$1,789Lowest 41% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.2%±23.3Highest ME: 48.4%	16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Albion and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.4%Highest ME: 10.7%	8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79%Lowest ME: 74.3%	79.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME	1977Lowest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 36% above ME	28 minLowest 13% above ME
Work from home	15.7%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9%	10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Albion and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 49/MSAD 49	RSU 79/MSAD 01
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.