Compare towns
Mapleton vs Peru vs Middlesex 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).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Peru | Middlesex | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
434Lowest |
1,943 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
45.3±8.6Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Peru and Middlesex 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% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 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% |
21.4%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Peru and Middlesex 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. |
$400,000±$105kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Peru and Middlesex 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. |
$1,271±$820 10% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Peru 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. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
29%±47.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peru 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% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±16.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.