What stands out worked out from the figures below

Columbia has the shortest commute (20 min average).

Mapleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Columbia	Mapleton
People
Population	683Lowest	1,884Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.8±10.1Highest 33% above U.S.	41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S.
	Columbia and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Mapleton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.9%±8.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	14.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Columbia and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$57,917±$13kLowest 28% below U.S.	$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S.
	Mapleton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$196,400±$29kHighest 41% below U.S.	$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S.
	Columbia and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$792±$333Highest 44% below U.S.	$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S.
	Columbia and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,009Highest 36% below U.S.	$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	9.1%±95.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	16.7%±10.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mapleton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	11.2%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Columbia 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
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.