Compare towns
Appleton vs Liberty vs Rye
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%).
Liberty has the youngest population (median age 40.5).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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 | Liberty | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
969Lowest |
5,611Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
40.5±6.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Rye and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Liberty and Rye 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% |
21.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Rye 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. |
$71,146±$15k 12% below U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$229,600±$31kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$559±$193Lowest 60% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$2,434Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±42.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Rye 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% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Rye School District |
| 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.