Compare towns

Mapleton vs Essex vs Chapman

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 youngest population (median age 41.8).
Essex has the most expensive homes ($447k median).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% 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.

MeasureMapletonEssexChapman
People
Population
1,884
11,516Highest
388Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
41.8±6Lowest
7% above U.S.
42.4±1.9
9% above U.S.
45.7±11.4Highest
17% above U.S.
Chapman and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.2%±5.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.4%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
27.6%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Chapman and Essex 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%
19.9%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
27.6%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
57.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Chapman 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±$25kLowest
14% above U.S.
$110,199±$14kHighest
36% above U.S.
$93,125±$17k
15% above U.S.
Essex and Chapman 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.
$447,300±$14kHighest
34% above U.S.
$185,700±$22kLowest
44% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$610±$277Lowest
57% below U.S.
$1,569±$138Highest
11% above U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,789Lowest
43% below U.S.
$6,602Highest
112% above U.S.
$1,850
41% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.7%±10.5
U.S.: 51.1%
45.9%±13.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
23 min
12% below U.S.
Work from home
10.8%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
21.5%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
4.8%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #13 of 70 in VT —
School district RSU 79/MSAD 01 Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 —
High school 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.