Compare towns
Mapleton vs Chester vs Union vs Castle Hill
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).
Chester has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Union has the most expensive homes ($268k median).
Castle Hill has the shortest commute (19 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 | Castle Hill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
2,992Highest |
2,663 |
281Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
57.8±15.8Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Castle Hill and Chester 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% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±5.8 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% |
29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
44.8%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester 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±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$54,250±$14kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| 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±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$145,300±$18kLowest 56% below U.S. |
| Union and Chester 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. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$950±$574 33% below U.S. |
| Union and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789 43% below U.S. |
$4,262Highest 37% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$1,449Lowest 54% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castle Hill 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% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Chester 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.