Compare towns

Alstead vs Appleton vs Hampton Beach 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

Appleton has the most homeowners (82.6%).
Hampton Beach has the most people working from home (26.9%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).

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.

MeasureAlsteadAppletonHampton BeachMapleton
People
Population
1,551
1,360Lowest
2,605Highest
1,884
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+14.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
56±3.3
44% above U.S.
49.2±7.4
26% above U.S.
60.4±2.4Highest
55% above U.S.
41.8±6Lowest
7% above U.S.
Hampton Beach and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.3%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
15.3%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
3.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Mapleton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.8%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
26.1%±9.3
U.S.: 17.2%
33.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.3%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hampton Beach and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
34%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
0.6%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Mapleton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$64,526±$11k
20% below U.S.
$53,618±$19kLowest
34% below U.S.
$82,557±$17k
about the U.S. average
$91,731±$25kHighest
14% above U.S.
Mapleton and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,600±$37k
18% below U.S.
$235,600±$33k
29% below U.S.
$508,900±$76kHighest
53% above U.S.
$191,800±$23kLowest
42% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,104±$82
22% below U.S.
$1,375±$130Highest
about the U.S. average
$610±$277Lowest
57% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,322
71% above U.S.
$3,588
15% above U.S.
$6,115Highest
96% above U.S.
$1,789Lowest
43% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
72.1%±22.3
U.S.: 51.1%
85.4%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
61.7%±20.2
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Appleton and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
76%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
62.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
30 min
14% above U.S.
25 minLowest
4% below U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
12.1%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
26.9%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district Fall Mountain Regional School District Appleton Public Schools — RSU 79/MSAD 01
High school 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.