Compare towns
Chapman vs Mapleton vs Townsend 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
Chapman has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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 | Townsend | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 388Lowest |
1,884 |
9,100Highest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±11.4Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
| Chapman and Mapleton 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% |
21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Chapman and Union 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%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chapman and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% 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%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chapman and Townsend 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. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Townsend 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±$22kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Union 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union 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 | — | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | North Middlesex | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.