Compare towns
Appleton vs Hartford vs Mapleton
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 oldest population (median age 49.2).
Hartford has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Hartford | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
10,736Highest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Hartford 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% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Hartford 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% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Hartford 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% |
47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Hartford 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. |
$78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Mapleton and Hartford 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. |
$304,500±$26kHighest 8% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,218±$118Highest 14% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Hartford and Appleton 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. |
$5,773Highest 85% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Hartford 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% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hartford 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 | — | #34 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Hartford School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hartford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6 |
— |
| 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.