Compare towns
Mapleton vs Appleton vs Dracut
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Dracut has the most expensive homes ($474k 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 | Mapleton | Appleton | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,884 |
1,360Lowest |
32,574Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.7±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Appleton 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dracut and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$5,375Highest 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dracut and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | Dracut |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Dracut Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.