Compare towns
Mapleton vs Berlin vs Penobscot vs Union
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).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Penobscot has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Berlin | Penobscot | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
2,880Highest |
1,154Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7Highest 37% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Penobscot and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Penobscot and Berlin 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% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Berlin 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 14% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$63,194±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Mapleton and Berlin 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. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$296,400±$58kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Penobscot and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,141±$33 19% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Union and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,418Highest 42% above U.S. |
$1,852 41% below U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Penobscot and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Penobscot and Union 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 | — | #16 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Penobscot Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.