Compare towns
Mapleton vs Castleton vs East Machias vs Franklin
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).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
East Machias has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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 | Castleton | East Machias | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
4,453Highest |
1,223Lowest |
1,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.8±2.9 10% above U.S. |
46±9.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Franklin and East Machias 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% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| East Machias 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% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franklin and Castleton 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% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$57,589±$10kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$65,455±$16k 19% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Castleton 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. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$210,800±$23k 37% below U.S. |
$245,800±$59kHighest 26% below U.S. |
| Franklin and Castleton 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. |
$1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$907±$566 36% below U.S. |
$888±$306 37% below U.S. |
| Castleton and East Machias 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. |
$3,167Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,836 41% below U.S. |
$2,231 28% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±40.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and East Machias 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% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Franklin and Mapleton 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | East Machias Public Schools | — |
| High school 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.