Compare towns
Starks vs Mapleton vs Webster vs Blaine
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Starks has the oldest population (median age 46.7).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Blaine has the shortest commute (19 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 | Starks | Mapleton | Webster | Blaine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 556Lowest |
1,884 |
2,227Highest |
706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.7±9.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
46.3±17 19% above U.S. |
| Starks and Blaine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8 U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Blaine and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Starks and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Blaine and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,500±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$80,707±$24k about the U.S. average |
| Webster and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $148,500±$27kLowest 55% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$338,500±$30kHighest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$301 25% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
$691±$303 51% below U.S. |
| Webster and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,348Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
$6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
$1,804 42% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±90.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.5%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Webster 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 | Merrimack Valley School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None 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.