Compare towns
Appleton vs Northfield 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%).
Northfield has the highest household income ($93k).
Liberty has the most people working from home (14.4%).
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 | Northfield | Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
4,971Highest |
969Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
42.6±5.1 10% above U.S. |
40.5±6.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Northfield 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% |
20.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Northfield 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% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Liberty 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% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northfield 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. |
$92,917±$15kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$71,146±$15k 12% below U.S. |
| Northfield and Liberty 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. |
$288,500±$33kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$229,600±$31kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Northfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,076±$182 24% below U.S. |
$559±$193Lowest 60% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Northfield 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. |
$5,097Highest 63% above U.S. |
$2,434Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.1%±14.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±42.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Liberty 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% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Liberty 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 | — | #109 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Winnisquam Regional School District | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| 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.