Compare towns
Appleton vs Castle Hill vs Dover vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castle Hill has the most affordable homes ($145k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Castle Hill | Dover | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
281Lowest |
33,364Highest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
57.8±15.8Highest 49% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
| Castle Hill 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% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Dover 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% |
44.8%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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. |
$54,250±$14k 33% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
| Dover and Mapleton 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. |
$145,300±$18kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$950±$574 33% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$1,449Lowest 54% below U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Castle Hill 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | Dover School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.