Compare towns
Sandgate vs Mapleton vs Starks vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k 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 | Sandgate | Mapleton | Starks | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435 |
1,884Highest |
556 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.7±9.4 20% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5 39% above U.S. |
| Sandgate and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±7.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±11.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
21%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,167±$19k 14% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$63,500±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$31k 42% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$148,500±$27kLowest 55% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,063±$301Highest 25% below U.S. |
$942±$52 33% below U.S. |
| Starks and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778 11% below U.S. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
$1,348Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$4,146Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±90.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Starks and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate 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 | 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.