What stands out worked out from the figures below

Appleton has the most kids (15.3% under 18).

Bartlett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Appleton	Bartlett
People
Population	1,360Lowest	3,281Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S.	57.4±4.7Highest 48% above U.S.
	Bartlett and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22%	7.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	26.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	36.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bartlett and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.1%±0.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S.	$59,754±$9kHighest 26% below U.S.
	Bartlett and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S.	$371,400±$78kHighest 12% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,676±$97Highest 19% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,588Highest 15% above U.S.	$2,512Lowest 19% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	68.5%±37.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Appleton and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 14% above U.S.	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.
Work from home	11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bartlett and Appleton 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	—	#74 of 120 in NH
School district	Appleton Public Schools	Bartlett School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.