Compare towns
Castle Hill vs Mapleton vs Strafford vs Lowell
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 most affordable homes ($145k median).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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 | Mapleton | Strafford | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 281Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,372 |
378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 57.8±15.8Highest 49% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
55.5±8.6 43% above U.S. |
| Castle Hill and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 44.8%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.2%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±5.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,250±$14k 33% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$50,833±$31kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Strafford 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±$18kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$209,700±$30k 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $950±$574 33% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
— |
| Strafford and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,449Lowest 54% below U.S. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$1,478 53% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
80%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lowell and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Strafford 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.