Compare towns
Appleton vs Bedford 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 the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Bedford has the most expensive homes ($612k median).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
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 | Bedford | Mapleton | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
23,746Highest |
1,884 |
1,249Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest 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. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 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% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford 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% |
20.5%±2.1 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% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Bedford 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. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$920±$276 35% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$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% |
59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford 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 | — | #7 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Bedford School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— | — |
| 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.