Compare towns
Ludlow vs Mapleton vs Williston vs Houlton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ludlow has the most homeowners (90.4%).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Houlton has the shortest commute (10 min average).
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 | Ludlow | Mapleton | Williston | Houlton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 444Lowest |
1,884 |
10,144Highest |
6,056 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.1±5.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
45.4±2.8 17% above U.S. |
| Ludlow and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ludlow and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Houlton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,500±$21k 23% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$61,058±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Williston and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $133,900±$56kLowest 60% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$137,000±$31k 59% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $988±$111 30% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$785±$66 44% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,655Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,707 45% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±94.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±12.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Houlton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
63.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
10 minLowest 61% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.8%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #50 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | RSU 29/MSAD 29 · Houlton-Region 2 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Houlton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 16.8 |
| 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.