Compare towns

Appleton vs Jay vs Mapleton vs Richford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Richford has the most renters (29.6% rent).

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.

MeasureAppletonJayMapletonRichford
People
Population
1,360
471Lowest
1,884
2,467Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.2±7.4
26% above U.S.
52.1±10.5Highest
34% above U.S.
41.8±6
7% above U.S.
39±3.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
Jay and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.3%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
14.2%±7.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±4
U.S.: 22%
Mapleton and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.1%±9.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.3%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
23.4%±4.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Appleton and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
20.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
1.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
6.4%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Richford and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$53,618±$19kLowest
34% below U.S.
$74,792±$25k
7% below U.S.
$91,731±$25kHighest
14% above U.S.
$56,853±$13k
30% below U.S.
Mapleton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$235,600±$33kHighest
29% below U.S.
$234,200±$45k
30% below U.S.
$191,800±$23k
42% below U.S.
$176,600±$16kLowest
47% below U.S.
Appleton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,104±$82
22% below U.S.
—
$610±$277Lowest
57% below U.S.
$1,160±$66Highest
18% below U.S.
Richford and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,588Highest
15% above U.S.
$3,588Highest
15% above U.S.
$1,789Lowest
43% below U.S.
$3,300
6% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
85.4%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.1%±15.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Appleton and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
19.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
97%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
70.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988
8 yrs newer than U.S.
2001Highest
21 yrs newer than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
14% above U.S.
40 minHighest
50% above U.S.
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
27.3%±13.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
9.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Jay and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Appleton Public Schools Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District RSU 79/MSAD 01 Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88
High school in town None in town None in town None in town Richford Junior/Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school — — —
9.1
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.