What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).

Amherst has the oldest population (median age 50.9).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Mapleton	Amherst
People
Population	1,884Highest	424Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.2% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME	50.9±9.9Highest 14% above ME
	Amherst and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1%	19.3%±8.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Mapleton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4%	24.3%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4%
	Amherst and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.3%Highest ME: 36.2%	31.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8%	3.8%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Mapleton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME	$72,656±$12kLowest about the ME average
	Mapleton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME	$210,200±$38kHighest 29% below ME
	Amherst and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$610±$277 46% below ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,789Highest 41% below ME	$1,527Lowest 50% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	50%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Amherst and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest ME: 10.7%	6.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	96.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest same as ME	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 13% above ME	27 minLowest 11% above ME
Work from home	10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	11%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Amherst and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 79/MSAD 01	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.