Compare towns

Mapleton vs Brandon vs Springfield 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 highest household income ($92k).
Brandon has the oldest population (median age 50.1).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
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.

MeasureMapletonBrandonSpringfieldUnion
People
Population
1,884Lowest
4,120
9,084Highest
2,663
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±6
7% above U.S.
50.1±3.1Highest
29% above U.S.
43.2±3.7
11% above U.S.
41.6±5.3Lowest
7% above U.S.
Kids under 18
22.2%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4Lowest
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%
22.3%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
23.6%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.4%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Springfield and Brandon 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%
32.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
23.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Mapleton and Union 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.
$64,180±$12kLowest
21% below U.S.
$66,571±$13k
18% below U.S.
$80,724±$9k
about the U.S. average
Mapleton and Union 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.
$227,800±$23k
32% below U.S.
$192,400±$20k
42% below U.S.
$267,600±$42kHighest
20% below U.S.
Union and Brandon 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.
$1,064±$225
25% below U.S.
$963±$100
32% below U.S.
$1,179±$452Highest
17% below U.S.
Union and Brandon 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.
$4,241
36% above U.S.
$4,807Highest
54% above U.S.
$3,276
5% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.7%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±15.1
U.S.: 51.1%
49.6%±15.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
24.6%±19.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Springfield and Brandon 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%
14.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
14.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1951Lowest
29 yrs older than U.S.
1958
22 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
5% above U.S.
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
27 min
3% above U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
10.8%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
9.9%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±5.5
U.S.: 15.1%
15.9%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Union and Springfield 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 — #69 of 70 in VT #64 of 70 in VT —
School district RSU 79/MSAD 01 Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District RSU 40/MSAD 40
High school in town None in town Otter Valley Union High School Springfield High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.9Lowest
14.3Highest
—
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.