What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stratford has the oldest population (median age 49.8).

Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Stratford	Mapleton
People
Population	950Lowest	1,884Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.8±16.8Highest 28% above U.S.	41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S.
	Stratford and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Mapleton and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stratford and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mapleton and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$49,583±$14kLowest 39% below U.S.	$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$161,100±$48kLowest 52% below U.S.	$191,800±$23kHighest 42% below U.S.
	Mapleton and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$775±$264Highest 45% below U.S.	$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S.
	Stratford and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,512Highest 19% below U.S.	$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	64%±53.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stratford and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	23.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 15% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	8.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	10.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Mapleton and Stratford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Stratford 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

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.