Compare towns
Appleton vs Dover vs Searsmont
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 most affordable homes ($236k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Searsmont has the most homeowners (90.6%).
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 | Dover | Searsmont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
33,364Highest |
1,646 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.5±9.8 14% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Searsmont 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% |
16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Appleton 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Searsmont 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% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
10%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Searsmont and Dover 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. |
$87,000±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Dover and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$284,000±$31k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$940±$311Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$2,788Lowest 11% 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% |
41.4%±41.3Lowest 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% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±10.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Searsmont 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Dover School District | RSU 71 |
| 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 |
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.