What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mapleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).

Bridgewater has the shortest commute (22 min average).

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	Bridgewater
People
Population	1,884Highest	484Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME	48.8±8Highest 9% above ME
	Bridgewater 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%	17.1%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Mapleton and Bridgewater 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%	27.5%±2.8Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.3%Highest ME: 36.2%	18.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8%	2.9%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Mapleton and Bridgewater 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	$65,417±$15kLowest 12% below ME
	Mapleton and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME	$154,900±$78kLowest 48% below ME
	Mapleton and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME	$768±$116Highest 33% below ME
	Bridgewater and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,789Highest 41% below ME	$1,417Lowest 53% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	38.9%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Bridgewater and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%	12%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	84.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest same as ME	1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 13% above ME	22 minLowest 10% below ME
Work from home	10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9%	7.5%±5.1Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Mapleton and Bridgewater 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.