What stands out worked out from the figures below

Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).

Enfield has the highest household income ($95k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Appleton	Enfield
People
Population	1,360Lowest	4,475Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S.	58.3±5.4Highest 50% above U.S.
	Enfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22%	7.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	26.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Enfield 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	43%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Appleton and Enfield 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.	$95,474±$19kHighest 18% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S.	$390,800±$71kHighest 17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,181±$563Highest 16% below U.S.
	Enfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S.	$6,203Highest 99% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	17.8%±16.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Appleton and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	11.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Appleton and Enfield 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	—	#5 of 120 in NH
School district	Appleton Public Schools	Mascoma Valley Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.