Compare towns
Mapleton vs Starks vs Plainfield 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 renters (20.1% rent).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k 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 | Starks | Plainfield | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
556Lowest |
2,522 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
46.7±9.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 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% |
20.3%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 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% |
21%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Plainfield 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. |
$63,500±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k 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±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$148,500±$27kLowest 55% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,063±$301 25% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Union 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. |
$1,348Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±90.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Starks 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% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | Plainfield School District | 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 | 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.