Compare towns
Mapleton vs Union vs Strafford vs Washburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k 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 | Washburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
2,663Highest |
1,372 |
1,355Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.5%Lowest 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. |
48.2±7.7 24% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Washburn 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% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±3.5Lowest 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%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washburn 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26%Lowest 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% |
3.6%±1.4 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±$9k about the U.S. average |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$56,196±$6kLowest 30% below 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±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$112,900±$14kLowest 66% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277 57% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$482±$62Lowest 66% 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 | $1,789 43% below U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$1,571Lowest 50% below 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% |
33.3%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Washburn 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest 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 | RSU 45/MSAD 45 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Washburn District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.0 |
| 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.