Compare towns
Appleton vs Mount Holly vs Wallingford
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 the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Mount Holly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Wallingford has the youngest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Mount Holly | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,415 |
2,286Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
53.5±8.2Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.9±10.8Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Mount Holly 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% |
21.2%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Mount Holly and Wallingford 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%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mount Holly 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% |
41.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Mount Holly 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. |
$78,015±$19k 3% below U.S. |
$80,230±$15kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Wallingford and Mount Holly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$296,900±$40kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$261,900±$44k 21% below U.S. |
| Mount Holly and Wallingford 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. |
$1,534±$1kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$891±$95Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Mount Holly and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,926 26% above U.S. |
$4,355Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.9%±65.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Mount Holly 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% |
11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mount Holly and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| 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.