Compare towns
Mapleton vs Effingham 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).
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Effingham | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,884Lowest |
1,912 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
46.9±12.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Effingham 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% |
19.5%±4.5Lowest 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% |
18.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Effingham 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% |
20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Union 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. |
$76,607±$14kLowest 5% 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. |
$322,700±$30kHighest 3% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Effingham and Union 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. |
$1,090±$121 23% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Union and Effingham 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. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Mapleton 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% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 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 19% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Effingham and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Governor Wentworth Regional 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 |
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.