Compare towns
Mapleton vs Townsend vs Windham vs Castle Hill
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).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Windham has the most people working from home (21.9%).
Castle Hill has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
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 | Windham | Castle Hill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
9,100 |
16,038Highest |
281Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
57.8±15.8Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Castle Hill 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%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
44.8%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±5.3Lowest 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±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$54,250±$14kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$145,300±$18kLowest 56% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$950±$574 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789 43% below U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$1,449Lowest 54% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castle Hill and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | North Middlesex | Windham School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Windham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
12.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.