What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).

Carthage has the most affordable homes ($144k 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.

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

Measure	Mapleton	Carthage
People
Population	1,884Highest	845Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-9.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME	42.8±10.9Highest 4% below ME
	Carthage 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%	13.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	18.3%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4%	10.7%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.3%Highest ME: 36.2%	13.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8%	2%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Mapleton and Carthage 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	$79,107±$18kLowest 6% above ME
	Mapleton and Carthage 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	$144,300±$41kLowest 51% below ME
	Mapleton and Carthage 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	$811±$262Highest 29% below ME
	Carthage 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	$1,239Lowest 59% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±10.5Highest ME: 48.4%	0%±88Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Mapleton and Carthage 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%	3.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	88.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest same as ME	1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 13% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9%	10%±7.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Mapleton and Carthage 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.