Compare towns
Alstead vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alstead has the most people working from home (12.1%).
Appleton has the most homeowners (82.6%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Bridgewater has the most expensive homes ($399k 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 | Alstead | Appleton | Mapleton | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,551 |
1,360 |
1,884Highest |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 44% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
58.3±6.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bridgewater 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% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% 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% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest 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. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$82,361±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Mapleton and Bridgewater 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$398,600±$65kHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,125±$201Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$2,823 9% 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% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±13.6 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Alstead and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Newfound Area School District |
| 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.