Compare towns
Appleton vs Bennington vs Chapman
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).
Bennington has the most people working from home (14.7%).
Chapman has the shortest commute (23 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 | Bennington | Chapman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,588Highest |
388Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.7±11.4 17% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Chapman 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% |
26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chapman and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chapman 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chapman 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. |
$83,875±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$93,125±$17kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Chapman and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$267,300±$15kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$185,700±$22kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S. |
— |
| Bennington 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. |
$5,944Highest 91% above U.S. |
$1,850Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Bennington 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bennington and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Contoocook Valley School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.