What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rupert has the most expensive homes ($363k median).

Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Rupert	Mapleton
People
Population	676Lowest	1,884Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S.	41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S.
Kids under 18	13.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Mapleton and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mapleton and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,229±$36kLowest 9% above U.S.	$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S.
	Mapleton and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,500±$63kHighest 9% above U.S.	$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$610±$277 57% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,594Highest 47% above U.S.	$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rupert and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	18.6%±9.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rupert and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	RSU 79/MSAD 01
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.