Compare towns
Union vs Middlesex vs Hope vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Union | Middlesex | Hope | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663Highest |
1,943 |
1,748Lowest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
| Hope and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$373,400±$33k 12% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276 5% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hope and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Hope Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.