Compare towns
Jay vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Richford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Richford has the most renters (29.6% rent).
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 | Jay | Appleton | Mapleton | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
1,360 |
1,884 |
2,467Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
39±3.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Jay and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.4%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Richford and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$56,853±$13k 30% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33kHighest 29% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$176,600±$16kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,160±$66Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Richford and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,300 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±15.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Richford Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.1 |
| 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.