Compare towns
Mapleton vs Nelson vs Union vs Washburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k median).
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 | Nelson | Union | Washburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
648Lowest |
2,663Highest |
1,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
48.2±7.7Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Washburn and Nelson 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Union 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% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Washburn 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% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Washburn 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. |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$56,196±$6kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Mapleton 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. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$112,900±$14kLowest 66% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277 57% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$482±$62Lowest 66% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Union 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. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$1,571Lowest 50% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nelson and Washburn 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Nelson School District | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 45/MSAD 45 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Washburn District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.0 |
| 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.