Compare towns
Effingham vs Mapleton vs Strong
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Effingham | Mapleton | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,912Highest |
1,884 |
1,249Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.9±12.4 21% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Strong and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strong and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,607±$14k 5% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,700±$30kHighest 3% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,090±$121Highest 23% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$920±$276 35% below U.S. |
| Effingham and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$1,950 37% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.6%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strong and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strong and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| 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.