Compare towns
Barton vs Hope vs Mapleton vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Union has the most kids (24.9% 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.
| Measure | Barton | Hope | Mapleton | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730Lowest |
1,748 |
1,884 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.6±3.1Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
| Hope and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Mapleton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150 46% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Hope and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185 about the U.S. average |
$3,842Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hope and Barton 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 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | — | Hope Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.