Compare towns
Appleton vs Mapleton vs Plainfield
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).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k 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 | Mapleton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,884 |
2,522Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Appleton and Mapleton 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% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Mapleton 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% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Plainfield 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% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Plainfield 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. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Plainfield 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. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Plainfield 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.