Compare towns
Appleton vs Charlestown vs Unity vs Strong
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%).
Charlestown has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Unity has the highest household income ($88k).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Charlestown | Unity | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
4,889Highest |
1,375 |
1,249Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
41.6±8.5Lowest 7% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9 22% above U.S. |
| Unity 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% |
22.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Charlestown and Strong 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% |
22.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
12.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlestown 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. |
$47,338±$23kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$47,557±$10k 41% below U.S. |
| Unity and Appleton 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. |
$228,000±$62k 31% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Unity 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. |
$1,099±$85 22% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$920±$276Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Unity 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. |
$5,143 65% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$1,950Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±24.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Charlestown 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% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strong and Appleton 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 | — | #113 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Unity School District | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| 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 | 4 photos → | 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.