Compare towns
Appleton vs Bennington vs Washburn
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 highest household income ($84k).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k 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 | Bennington | Washburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,588Highest |
1,355Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
48.2±7.7 24% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Washburn 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%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Washburn 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% |
24%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Washburn 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% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Washburn 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±$7kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$56,196±$6k 30% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$267,300±$15kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$112,900±$14kLowest 66% 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±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S. |
$482±$62Lowest 66% 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. |
$1,571Lowest 50% 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% |
33.3%±24.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest 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 | RSU 45/MSAD 45 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Washburn District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0 |
| 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.