Compare towns
Appleton vs Bennington vs Mapleton vs Searsmont
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%).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Searsmont has the shortest commute (25 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 | Mapleton | Searsmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,588 |
1,884Highest |
1,646 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.5±9.8 14% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington 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% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Searsmont 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% |
33.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%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%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
10%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Searsmont and Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$87,000±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Mapleton and Searsmont 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±$15k 20% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$284,000±$31kHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Searsmont and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$940±$311 33% 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$2,788 11% 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% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Searsmont 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±10.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Searsmont and Bennington 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 71 |
| High school in town | None 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.