Compare towns
Appleton vs Auburn vs Strong vs Sullivan
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 oldest population (median age 49.2).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Sullivan has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Appleton | Auburn | Strong | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
6,119Highest |
1,249 |
1,246Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9 22% above U.S. |
47.1±15 21% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Strong and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$59,643±$14k 26% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$222,000±$33k 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
$920±$276 35% below U.S. |
$883±$114Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Auburn and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$8,092Highest 159% above U.S. |
$1,950Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$2,228 29% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.9%±23.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn and Strong 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 | — | #44 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Auburn School District | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 24 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Sumner Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.5 |
| 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.