Compare towns
Mapleton vs Richmond vs Hope 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).
Richmond has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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 | Richmond | Hope | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
4,159Highest |
1,748Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6 12% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Hope and Richmond 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% |
21.5%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Hope 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% |
19.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Hope 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% |
59.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Union 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. |
$108,235±$24kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Richmond 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. |
$432,200±$39kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$373,400±$33k 12% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Richmond and Hope 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. |
— | $1,219±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Hope and Union 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. |
$6,868Highest 120% above U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hope and Richmond 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% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Richmond and Hope 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 | — | #5 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Hope Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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.