Compare towns

Mapleton vs Derby vs Franklin vs Union

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).
Derby has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Franklin has the most renters (23.2% rent).
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).

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.

MeasureMapletonDerbyFranklinUnion
People
Population
1,884
4,537Highest
1,628Lowest
2,663
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±6
7% above U.S.
51.6±2.1Highest
33% above U.S.
46±9.3
18% above U.S.
41.6±5.3Lowest
7% above U.S.
Derby and Franklin 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%
15.7%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
24.9%±4Highest
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%
27.2%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.6%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
21.4%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Derby and Franklin 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%
36.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Mapleton and Franklin 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.
$80,250±$8k
about the U.S. average
$65,455±$16kLowest
19% below U.S.
$80,724±$9k
about the U.S. average
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±$23kLowest
42% below U.S.
$225,000±$10k
32% below U.S.
$245,800±$59k
26% below U.S.
$267,600±$42kHighest
20% below U.S.
Union and Franklin 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.
$1,096±$118
22% below U.S.
$888±$306
37% below U.S.
$1,179±$452Highest
17% below U.S.
Union and Derby 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.
$3,449Highest
11% above U.S.
$2,231
28% below U.S.
$3,276
5% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.7%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.8%±18.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
36.7%±27.8
U.S.: 51.1%
24.6%±19.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Derby and Franklin 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%
7.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
15.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
76.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
32 minHighest
23% above U.S.
29 min
10% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
Work from home
10.8%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
10.6%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.2%±5.5
U.S.: 15.1%
15.9%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Union and Franklin 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 — #52 of 70 in VT — —
School district RSU 79/MSAD 01 Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District — RSU 40/MSAD 40
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.