Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Mapleton vs Starks vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lunenburg has the oldest population (median age 51.2).
Mapleton has the most people working from home (10.8%).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
Dalton has the shortest commute (20 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 | Lunenburg | Mapleton | Starks | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,267 |
1,884Highest |
556Lowest |
916 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.2Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.7±9.4 20% above U.S. |
44.5±12.9 14% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±11.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lunenburg and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4.3Highest 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 | $53,125±$9kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$63,500±$8k 21% below U.S. |
$81,429±$36k about the U.S. average |
| Mapleton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $164,000±$11k 51% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kHighest 42% below U.S. |
$148,500±$27kLowest 55% below U.S. |
$191,400±$68k 42% 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 | $1,025±$172 27% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,063±$301Highest 25% below U.S. |
$900±$825 36% below U.S. |
| Starks and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,702 13% below U.S. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
$1,348Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$3,561Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±57.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±90.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±83.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dalton and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.9%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.9%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mapleton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.