Compare towns
Starks vs Unity vs Mapleton vs Madison
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 most affordable homes ($149k median).
Unity has the most expensive homes ($276k median).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Madison has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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 | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 556Lowest |
1,375 |
1,884 |
4,782Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%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. |
49.6±3.4 28% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±4.3 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+ | 20.3%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4% 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% |
4.1%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Madison 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. |
$61,747±$11kLowest 24% 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±$27kLowest 55% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$187,600±$40k 44% 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. |
$906±$247 36% 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. |
$1,983 36% 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% |
30.9%±11.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Starks and Unity 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% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
15% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
54.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older 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. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 3.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Madison and Mapleton 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 | RSU 59/MSAD 59 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.