Compare towns
Charleston vs Mapleton vs Braintree vs Canaan
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%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Braintree has the most people working from home (19%).
Canaan has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Mapleton | Braintree | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 936 |
1,884Highest |
1,026 |
810Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±9.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
53.2±4.6 37% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Canaan 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.5%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Charleston and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
13.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.3 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. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$55,606±$4k 31% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$53kHighest 28% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$217,700±$28k 35% below U.S. |
$201,900±$46k 39% below U.S. |
| Charleston and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$444Highest 31% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$840±$405 41% below U.S. |
— |
| Charleston and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,750 20% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,908Highest 25% above U.S. |
$3,389 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±26.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.2%±63.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Braintree 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% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.4%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Charleston School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Canaan School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Canaan High School CTE Program |
| 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.