Compare towns

Mapleton vs Plainfield vs Strong vs Pittston

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 renters (20.1% rent).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
Strong has the oldest population (median age 47.5).
Pittston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).

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.

MeasureMapletonPlainfieldStrongPittston
People
Population
1,884
2,522
1,249Lowest
3,093Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-7.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±6
7% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
47.5±8.9Highest
22% above U.S.
41.4±5.9
6% above U.S.
Strong 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%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.5%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±7.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield 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%
19.8%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
22%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±6.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Strong and Plainfield 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%
46.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
26.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
26.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Pittston 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.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$47,557±$10kLowest
41% below U.S.
$86,614±$18k
7% above U.S.
Plainfield 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.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$183,900±$29kLowest
45% below U.S.
$238,700±$66k
28% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$610±$277Lowest
57% below U.S.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$920±$276
35% below U.S.
$1,080±$593
24% below U.S.
Plainfield and Pittston 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.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$1,950
37% below U.S.
$1,909
39% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.7%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
20.9%±52.4
U.S.: 51.1%
57.6%±34.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Pittston and Plainfield 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%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
13.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
81%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
5% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
10.8%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
18.5%±9.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
3.8%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Strong and Plainfield 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 — #19 of 120 in NH — #123 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 79/MSAD 01 Plainfield School District RSU 58/MSAD 58 RSU 11/MSAD 11
High school in town None 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.