What stands out worked out from the figures below

Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).

Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).

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	Bedford
People
Population	1,360Lowest	23,746Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S.	45±2.2Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Appleton and Bedford 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%	22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Appleton and Bedford 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%	63%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bedford 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±$19kLowest 34% below U.S.	$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S.	$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S.	$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S.	$9,803Highest 214% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	59.4%±15.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Appleton and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Lowest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.
Work from home	11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#7 of 120 in NH
School district	Appleton Public Schools	Bedford School District
High school in town	None in town	Bedford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.5
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.