Compare towns
Appleton vs Hampton vs Mapleton vs Penobscot
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%).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k median).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Penobscot 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 | Mapleton | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
16,426Highest |
1,884 |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7 37% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Penobscot 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% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Penobscot and Hampton 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% |
42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Appleton 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. |
$95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$63,194±$14k 22% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Mapleton 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. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$296,400±$58k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,141±$33 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$1,852 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Penobscot 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% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Penobscot 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Penobscot Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.