Compare towns
Appleton vs Barton vs Mapleton vs Strong
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Barton has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Barton | Mapleton | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
730Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9 22% 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% |
24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Mapleton 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% |
21.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Strong 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% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6 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 | $53,618±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$47,557±$10k 41% below U.S. |
| Mapleton 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±$33kHighest 29% below U.S. |
$146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$183,900±$29k 45% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S. |
$761±$150 46% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$920±$276 35% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$3,185 about the U.S. average |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$1,950 37% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.8%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Barton 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% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strong and Barton 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 | — | #38 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| 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.