Compare towns
Appleton vs New Castle vs Rye vs Strong
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%).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
Rye has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k 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 | New Castle | Rye | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
827Lowest |
5,611Highest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
62.8±6Highest 61% above U.S. |
55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| New Castle and Rye 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% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strong 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% |
44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| New Castle and Rye 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% |
68.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6 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±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$176,953±$29kHighest 119% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| New Castle and Rye 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. |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 411% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89k 209% above U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$3,501Highest 148% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$920±$276Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$8,509Highest 173% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$1,950Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±85.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4 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% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.1%±19.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| New Castle and Rye 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 | — | — | #2 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | New Castle School District | Rye School District | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| 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 | 6 photos → | 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.