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Griswold vs Mapleton

73 miles apart. The biggest differences: street grid (2.4× in Griswold) and trails (2.3× in Mapleton).

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Griswold, IAKnown for its schoolsIowa · 975 people

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Mapleton, IAHomes around $175KIowa · 989 people

Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

GriswoldKnown for its schools

SchoolsBetter than 88%of IA districts Housing$197K typical home18% below the IA typical home All about Griswold →

MapletonHomes around $175K

Housing$175K typical home27% below the IA typical home All about Mapleton →

The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Street grid2.4×

Griswold has the more walkable street grid

Griswold 152Mapleton 63.5

Mapleton has more miles of trail

Mapleton 0.7 miGriswold 0.3 mi

Typical home built20 yrs

Griswold’s homes are older

Mapleton 1958Griswold 1938

★ What stands out · Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Iowa ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Schools

AGriswoldBetter than 88% of districts in the state B−MapletonBetter than 48% of districts in the state

Monthly cost

A typical home costs $180 more a month in Griswold

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Down paymentRate%

Griswold$1,270/mo

Typical home $197K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.43% · or rent about $907/mo · Housing →

Mapleton$1,090/mo

Typical home $175K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.16% · or rent about $846/mo · Housing →

The difference: $180 a month, about $2,100 a year, between Griswold and Mapleton.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons

GriswoldMapleton

Snow a year27″31″

January low13°F 9°F

July high86°F 84°F

Growing season (days)169d 151d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)54th 65th

Outdoors & history

GriswoldMapleton

Trails0 mi —

Conserved land0%—

National Register places1 1

Famous people born here—5

Community

GriswoldMapleton

Library hours a week31 hrs 43 hrs

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

73 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

GriswoldIA MapletonIA

Griswold ↔ Mapleton73 miles apart

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Only big differences vs Iowa average

GriswoldMapleton

People

Population 975Lowest 989Highest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -4.1%Highest IA: +4.7% -4.8%Lowest IA: +4.7%

Median age 50±4.4Lowest 30% above IA 53.1±7.7Highest 38% above IA

Mapleton and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 21%±5.4Highest IA: 22.9% 15.8%±3.4Lowest IA: 22.9%

Griswold and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 28.6%±3.3Lowest IA: 18.1% 29.1%±5.6Highest IA: 18.1%

Mapleton and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 23%Highest IA: 31.4% 21.3%Lowest IA: 31.4%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 4.4%±3.4Highest IA: 6.2% 2.3%±1.3Lowest IA: 6.2%

Griswold and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $55,000±$9kLowest 27% below IA $55,208±$12kHighest 26% below IA

Mapleton and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $98,900±$15kLowest 52% below IA $113,000±$31kHighest 46% below IA

Mapleton and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly $907±$516Highest 7% below IA $846±$69Lowest 13% below IA

Griswold and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Property taxmedian, yearly $1,418Highest 51% below IA $1,313Lowest 55% below IA

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 36%±21.7Lowest IA: 43.9% 59.6%±15.7Highest IA: 43.9%

Mapleton and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 13.3%Highest IA: 11.1% 8.4%Lowest IA: 11.1%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 78%Highest IA: 71.7% 74%Lowest IA: 71.7%

Typical home builtmedian year 1938Lowest 34 yrs older than IA 1958Highest 14 yrs older than IA

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 21 minLowest 5% above IA 23 minHighest 18% above IA

Work from home 10%±5.4Highest IA: 11.3% 7.3%±3.6Lowest IA: 11.3%

Griswold and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 14.9%Lowest 19%Highest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 15.8 miLowest 35.3 miHighest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.73Lowest 0.86Highest

Top workplaceoutside town Atlantic (18%)Sioux City (12%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in MapletonFew work in Griswold

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 0% 0%

Trailsmapped miles 0.3 miLowest 0.7 miHighest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.5 miHighest 0.4 miLowest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2Highest 0Lowest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 152Highest 63.5Lowest

Schools

School district Griswold Comm School DistrictMaple Valley-Anthon Oto Comm School District

High school in town Griswold Middle/High SchoolMaple Valley-Anthon Oto High School

Students per teacherat that high school 12.0Highest 11.4Lowest

Iowa average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024

Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Griswold neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Griswold’s Town Square.

Mapleton neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Mapleton’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Towns like Griswold

Odebolt945 people · $99K homes

Sioux Rapids722 people · $89K homes

Paullina869 people · $133K homes

Elgin735 people · $99K homes

Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks Iowa towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.