Compare towns
Appleton vs Derry vs Chapman 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 the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Derry has the most expensive homes ($432k median).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
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 | Derry | Chapman | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
34,116Highest |
388Lowest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
45.7±11.4 17% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9 22% 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% |
20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Chapman and Derry 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% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chapman 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% |
37.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry and Chapman 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. |
$108,944±$7kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$93,125±$17k 15% above U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Derry and Chapman 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. |
$432,000±$17kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$185,700±$22k 44% below U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,547±$138Highest 9% above U.S. |
— | $920±$276Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$1,850Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,950 37% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Derry 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%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. |
1983 3 yrs newer 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. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strong and Derry 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 | — | #60 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9 |
— | — |
| 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.