Compare towns
Mapleton vs Winchendon vs Union vs Chapman
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
Winchendon has the most expensive homes ($324k median).
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).
Chapman has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Winchendon | Union | Chapman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
10,440Highest |
2,663 |
388Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
45.7±11.4Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Chapman 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% |
21.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chapman and Union 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% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chapman 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% |
21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chapman 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. |
$75,690±$14kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$93,125±$17kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Chapman 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. |
$323,800±$19kHighest about the U.S. average |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$185,700±$22kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Winchendon 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. |
$1,255±$163Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
— |
| Winchendon and Union 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. |
$3,780Highest 21% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$1,850 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Winchendon 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% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Winchendon 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 | — | #269 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Winchendon | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Murdock High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.