What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).

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	Wells River	Mapleton
People
Population	340Lowest	1,884Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.7±12.7Highest 10% above U.S.	41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S.
	Wells River and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.1%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Mapleton and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Wells River and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mapleton and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below U.S.	$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$170,800±$103kLowest 49% below U.S.	$191,800±$23kHighest 42% below U.S.
	Mapleton and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$900±$336Highest 36% below U.S.	$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S.
	Wells River and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,154Highest 33% above U.S.	$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.6%±14.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	38.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	47.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	5.2%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	10.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Mapleton and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	RSU 79/MSAD 01
High school 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.