Compare towns
Ashland vs Mapleton vs Unity vs Oakfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($125k median).
Mapleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).
Unity has the most expensive homes ($276k median).
Oakfield has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Ashland | Mapleton | Unity | Oakfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,080 |
1,884Highest |
1,375 |
629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.4±9.1 37% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
57.7±6.3 48% above U.S. |
| Unity and Oakfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 32.2%±8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7 U.S.: 17.2% |
36.2%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Oakfield and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $46,838±$15k 42% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$46,378±$3kLowest 43% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $125,000±$49kLowest 62% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$144,300±$46k 57% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277 57% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$592±$261Lowest 58% below U.S. |
| Unity and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,511 52% below U.S. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$1,272Lowest 59% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.6%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Unity and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 23.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.6%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mapleton and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Unity School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.