Compare towns
Castle Hill vs Halifax vs Mapleton vs Crystal
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castle Hill has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Halifax has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Crystal has the most affordable homes ($129k 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 | Castle Hill | Halifax | Mapleton | Crystal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 281 |
7,748Highest |
1,884 |
247Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 57.8±15.8 49% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7 8% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
63.2±8.4Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Crystal and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±11.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 44.8%±6.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
49%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Crystal and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±5.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,250±$14k 33% below U.S. |
$118,556±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$48,125±$13kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Halifax and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $145,300±$18k 56% below U.S. |
$481,500±$51kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$129,200±$60kLowest 61% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $950±$574 33% below U.S. |
$1,804±$375Highest 28% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,563±$922 11% above U.S. |
| Halifax and Crystal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,449 54% below U.S. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
$943Lowest 70% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castle Hill and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.3%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
0%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax and Mapleton 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 | — | #120 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Halifax | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| 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.