Compare towns
Mapleton vs Strafford vs Cavendish 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).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 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 | Strafford | Cavendish | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
1,372 |
1,242Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Cavendish 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%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cavendish and Strafford 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% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Mapleton 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. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Strafford 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. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$285,100±$40k 14% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,000±$546 29% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Union and Strafford 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. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$3,948 27% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Cavendish 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% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cavendish and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Strafford School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | 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 | 18 photos → | 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.