Compare towns
Mapleton vs Sharon vs Wallingford 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).
Sharon has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
Wallingford has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Sharon | Wallingford | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
1,577Lowest |
2,286 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
45.9±10.8Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Wallingford and Sharon 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±5Lowest 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% |
25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Wallingford 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% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest 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±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
$80,230±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Mapleton and Sharon 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. |
$346,700±$37kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$261,900±$44k 21% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
$891±$95 37% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Sharon 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. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
$4,355 40% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Sharon 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% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Sharon School District | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | 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.