Compare towns
Mapleton vs Plainfield vs Topsham 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).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Plainfield | Topsham | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884Lowest |
2,522 |
9,706Highest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
| Topsham 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%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Plainfield 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% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Topsham 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. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Topsham 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. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above 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% |
40.3%±12.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Topsham 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Plainfield School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2 |
— |
| 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.