Compare towns
Appleton vs Franklin vs Union
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%).
Franklin has the most renters (35.8% rent).
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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 | Franklin | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
8,799Highest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
42.7±2 10% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Franklin 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% |
17.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Franklin 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% |
21.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Union 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% |
19.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Union 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. |
$71,648±$4k 11% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Union and Franklin 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. |
$262,200±$22k 21% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42kHighest 20% below U.S. |
| Union and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,110±$68 21% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Union and Franklin 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. |
$4,886Highest 57% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Franklin 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% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union 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 | — | #112 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Franklin School District | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Franklin High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 16.2 |
— |
| 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.