Compare towns
Appleton vs Brookline vs Strong vs Union
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).
Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Union has the shortest commute (29 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 | Brookline | Strong | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
5,736Highest |
1,249Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9 22% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Strong 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% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Union 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% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Strong 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% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline 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±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$920±$276Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Union 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$1,950Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Union 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% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Strong 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 | — | #23 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Brookline School District | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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.