Compare towns
Appleton vs Bow vs Mapleton vs Windham
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).
Bow has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Bow | Mapleton | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
8,335 |
1,884 |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Mapleton 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% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Bow 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% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow 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. |
$172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Windham and Bow 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. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Windham 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% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Windham 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | — | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Bow School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Windham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | 12.8 |
| 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.