Compare towns
Mapleton vs Putney vs Starks 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 highest household income ($92k).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Putney | Starks | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
2,622 |
556Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
46.7±9.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
| Starks 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% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.4 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%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Starks 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% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$63,500±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Mapleton and Union 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. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$148,500±$27kLowest 55% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Putney 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. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,063±$301 25% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Union and Starks 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. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,348Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±90.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest 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. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney and Union 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.