Compare towns
Charleston vs Lunenburg vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).
Lunenburg has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Charleston | Lunenburg | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 936Lowest |
1,267 |
1,884Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±9.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
51.2±4.2 32% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Charleston and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $49,286±$17kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$53,125±$9k 34% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$53kHighest 28% below U.S. |
$164,000±$11kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
| Charleston and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$444 31% below U.S. |
$1,025±$172Highest 27% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,750Highest 20% above U.S. |
$2,702 13% below U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±26.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±57.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lunenburg and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Charleston and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Charleston School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| 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 |
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.