Compare towns
Mapleton vs Townsend vs Washburn 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
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k 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 | Townsend | Washburn | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
9,100Highest |
1,355Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48.2±7.7Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
| Washburn 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% |
21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±3.5 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washburn and Union 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% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$56,196±$6kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Townsend 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. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$112,900±$14kLowest 66% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277 57% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$482±$62Lowest 66% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$1,571Lowest 50% below U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Washburn 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% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Mapleton 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | North Middlesex | RSU 45/MSAD 45 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Washburn District High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
12.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.