Compare towns
Union vs Underhill vs Mapleton vs Hope
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Underhill has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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 | Underhill | Mapleton | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
3,141Highest |
1,884 |
1,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
38.1±11.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Hope and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±4 U.S.: 22% |
27.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Underhill and Union 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% |
17.6%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3 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% |
50.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Union 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 |
$92,267±$54kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
| Underhill 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. |
$446,000±$24kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
— | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Hope and Union 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. |
$6,697Highest 115% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7Highest 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±11.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Underhill and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #2 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Hope Public Schools |
| 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.