Compare towns
Mapleton vs Union vs Strafford
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).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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 | Union | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,884 |
2,663Highest |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 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% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest 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. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| 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. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% 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. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Union 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% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Strafford School District |
| 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 |
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.