Compare towns
Dalton vs Mapleton vs Stratford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Mapleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).
Stratford has the most affordable homes ($161k 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 | Dalton | Mapleton | Stratford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 916Lowest |
1,884Highest |
950 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±12.9 14% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.8±16.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Stratford and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±7.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stratford and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dalton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,429±$36k about the U.S. average |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$49,583±$14kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,400±$68k 42% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kHighest 42% below U.S. |
$161,100±$48kLowest 52% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$825Highest 36% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$775±$264 45% below U.S. |
| Dalton and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,561Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$2,512 19% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±83.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±53.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratford and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
23.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mapleton and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Stratford School District |
| High school 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.