Compare towns
Mapleton vs West Springfield Town vs Union vs Franklin
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).
West Springfield Town has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).
Franklin has the oldest population (median age 46).
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 | West Springfield Town | Union | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
28,772Highest |
2,663 |
1,628Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
40.1±2.6Lowest 3% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
46±9.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Franklin 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% |
18.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest 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% |
17.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franklin 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% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Springfield Town 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±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$69,371±$7k 14% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$65,455±$16kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Union 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. |
$321,500±$16kHighest 3% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$245,800±$59k 26% below U.S. |
| West Springfield Town and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,144±$68 19% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$888±$306 37% below U.S. |
| Union and West Springfield Town 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. |
$4,380Highest 40% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$2,231 28% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.1%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.7%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Springfield Town and Franklin 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% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Franklin 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 | — | #218 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | West Springfield | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | West Springfield High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— | — |
| 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.