Compare towns
Appleton vs Bethlehem 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%).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
Searsmont has the most homeowners (90.6%).
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 | Bethlehem | Searsmont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
2,537Highest |
1,646 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
50.6±8.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
44.5±9.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Appleton 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% |
17.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bethlehem and Appleton 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% |
28.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%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% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Searsmont 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. |
$85,029±$18k 5% above U.S. |
$87,000±$20kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Searsmont and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$288,300±$22kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$284,000±$31k 15% below U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Searsmont 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. |
$1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
$940±$311Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Bethlehem 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. |
$5,418Highest 74% above U.S. |
$2,788Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±18.3Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±10.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem and Searsmont 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 | — | #34 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | RSU 71 |
| High school in town | None in town | Profile Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
— |
| 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.