Compare towns
Mapleton vs Chester vs Union vs Pittston
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).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k median).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Pittston has the shortest commute (26 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.
| Measure | Mapleton | Chester | Union | Pittston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884Lowest |
5,300Highest |
2,663 |
3,093 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
41.4±5.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Chester and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±7.4Lowest 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%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Pittston 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% |
41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pittston and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$142,212±$19kHighest 76% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
$86,614±$18k 7% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$238,700±$66k 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
— | $1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,080±$593 24% below U.S. |
| Union and Pittston 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. |
$8,464Highest 171% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$1,909 39% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±34.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pittston and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chester 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 | — | #90 of 120 in NH | — | #123 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Chester School District | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| 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.