Compare towns
Appleton vs Lyndeborough vs Strong vs Sullivan
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%).
Lyndeborough has the highest household income ($117k).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Sullivan has the shortest commute (26 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 | Lyndeborough | Strong | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,616Highest |
1,249 |
1,246Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
50±3.2Highest 29% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9 22% above U.S. |
47.1±15Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Strong and Sullivan 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% |
22.6%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Lyndeborough 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% |
40.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sullivan 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±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$116,964±$17kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$59,643±$14k 26% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$390,900±$26kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$222,000±$33k 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,482±$457Highest 5% above U.S. |
$920±$276 35% below U.S. |
$883±$114Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Lyndeborough 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. |
$7,133Highest 129% above U.S. |
$1,950Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$2,228 29% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.9%±23.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Lyndeborough 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strong and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 24 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Sumner Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.5 |
| 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.