Compare towns
Alton vs Appleton vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Union has the most kids (24.9% 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.
| Measure | Alton | Appleton | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994Highest |
1,360Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Alton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,715±$19kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,400±$37kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183Highest 34% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Alton 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 | #72 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.