Compare towns
Starks vs Unity vs Mapleton vs Mercer
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 oldest population (median age 58).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Mercer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
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 | Mercer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 556Lowest |
1,375 |
1,884Highest |
718 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%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. |
43.4±4.5 12% 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%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Mercer 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% |
25.9%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Mercer 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% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,500±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$71,107±$2k 12% 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. |
$238,500±$32k 28% below U.S. |
| Unity and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$301 25% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,422±$249 about the U.S. average |
| Unity and Mercer 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. |
$1,970 37% 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% |
18.5%±74 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% |
13.6% 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% |
92.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| 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% |
20.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mercer 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 | — |
| 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.