Compare towns
Madison vs Mapleton vs Starks vs Unity
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
Unity has the most expensive homes ($276k median).
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 | Madison | Mapleton | Starks | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,782Highest |
1,884 |
556Lowest |
1,375 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4 28% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.7±9.4 20% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $61,747±$11kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$63,500±$8k 21% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
| Mapleton and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,600±$40k 44% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$148,500±$27kLowest 55% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $906±$247 36% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,063±$301 25% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Unity and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,983 36% below U.S. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
$1,348Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±90.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Starks and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Madison and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | Unity School District |
| High school in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
— | — | — |
| 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.