Compare towns
Appleton vs Lancaster vs Union vs Strong
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%).
Lancaster has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Lancaster | Union | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
3,216Highest |
2,663 |
1,249Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9 22% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Strong 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%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Lancaster 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% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest 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±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9kHighest about the U.S. average |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Union and Lancaster 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. |
$215,700±$24k 35% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$920±$276Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Union 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. |
$4,226Highest 35% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$1,950Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest 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% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strong and Union 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 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.