Compare towns
Appleton vs Mapleton vs Lyndeborough vs Liberty
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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Lyndeborough has the most expensive homes ($391k median).
Liberty has the youngest population (median age 40.5).
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 | Mapleton | Lyndeborough | Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,884Highest |
1,616 |
969Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
50±3.2Highest 29% above U.S. |
40.5±6.8Lowest 4% 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Liberty 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.8 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$116,964±$17kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$71,146±$15k 12% below U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Mapleton 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$390,900±$26kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$229,600±$31k 31% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$610±$277 57% below U.S. |
$1,482±$457Highest 5% above U.S. |
$559±$193Lowest 60% 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$7,133Highest 129% above U.S. |
$2,434 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±42.4 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
38 min 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyndeborough and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| 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.