What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% 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.

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

Measure	Appleton	Lancaster
People
Population	1,360Lowest	3,216Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S.	45.5±6.9Lowest 17% above U.S.
	Appleton and Lancaster 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%	20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Lancaster and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lancaster 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Appleton and Lancaster 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.	$68,911±$23kHighest 15% below U.S.
	Lancaster and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$235,600±$33kHighest 29% below U.S.	$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S.
	Appleton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S.	$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Appleton and Lancaster 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.	$4,226Highest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Appleton and Lancaster 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%	16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	11.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lancaster 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	—	#107 of 120 in NH
School district	Appleton Public Schools	White Mountains 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.