Compare towns

Appleton vs Dover vs Chapman

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).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% 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.

MeasureAppletonDoverChapman
People
Population
1,360
33,364Highest
388Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
49.2±7.4Highest
26% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
45.7±11.4
17% above U.S.
Appleton and Chapman 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%
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
27.6%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
26.1%±9.3
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.6%±3.8Highest
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%
52%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover 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±$19kLowest
34% below U.S.
$94,829±$7kHighest
17% above U.S.
$93,125±$17k
15% above U.S.
Dover 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.
$436,700±$20kHighest
31% above U.S.
$185,700±$22kLowest
44% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,104±$82Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,607±$100Highest
14% above U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,588
15% above U.S.
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
$1,850Lowest
41% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
85.4%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Appleton and Dover 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%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
23 min
12% below U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
4.8%±3.5Lowest
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 —
High school in town None in town Dover Senior High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.7
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.