Compare towns
Appleton vs Hampton Falls 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).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Searsmont has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Hampton Falls | Searsmont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
2,328Highest |
1,646 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
44.5±9.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Hampton Falls 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% |
54.5%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% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
10%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Searsmont and Hampton Falls 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. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$87,000±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$284,000±$31k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
$940±$311Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,788Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Searsmont 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±10.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Hampton Falls School District | RSU 71 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.