Compare towns

Wells River vs Mapleton vs Whiting

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).
Mapleton has the most homeowners (79.9%).
Whiting has the most expensive homes ($280k 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.

MeasureWells RiverMapletonWhiting
People
Population
340Lowest
1,884Highest
532
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
42.7±12.7Highest
10% above U.S.
41.8±6
7% above U.S.
39.6±2.7Lowest
about the U.S. average
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%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Whiting and Mapleton 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%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±5.1Lowest
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%
25.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.6%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Whiting and Mapleton 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.
$91,250±$38k
13% above U.S.
Mapleton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$170,800±$103kLowest
49% below U.S.
$191,800±$23k
42% below U.S.
$280,400±$36kHighest
16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$900±$336
36% below U.S.
$610±$277Lowest
57% below U.S.
$1,204±$519Highest
15% below U.S.
Whiting and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,154
33% above U.S.
$1,789Lowest
43% below U.S.
$4,227Highest
36% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.6%±14.8
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
58.3%±37.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Whiting and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
38.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
47.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
65.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
Work from home
5.2%±9.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Mapleton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — RSU 79/MSAD 01 Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.