Compare towns
Chapman vs Mapleton vs Strafford vs Starks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k 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 | Chapman | Mapleton | Strafford | Starks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 388Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,372 |
556 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±11.4 17% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
46.7±9.4 20% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Chapman and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chapman and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chapman and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,125±$17k 15% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$63,500±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $185,700±$22k 44% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$148,500±$27kLowest 55% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,063±$301 25% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,850 41% below U.S. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$1,348Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±90.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Starks and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90% 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. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.8%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest 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.