Compare towns
Starks vs Unity vs Mapleton vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the most expensive homes ($276k median).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (21 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 | Unity | Mapleton | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 556 |
1,375 |
1,884Highest |
444Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 46.7±9.4 20% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.1±5.8 19% above U.S. |
| Unity and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ludlow and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,500±$8k 21% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$62,500±$21kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $148,500±$27k 55% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$133,900±$56kLowest 60% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$301 25% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$988±$111 30% below U.S. |
| Unity 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. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
$1,655 47% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±90.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±94.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.8%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mapleton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Unity School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| 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.