Compare towns
Appleton vs Penobscot vs Plainfield vs Sullivan
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%).
Penobscot has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($222k 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 | Penobscot | Plainfield | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,154Lowest |
2,522Highest |
1,246 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7Highest 37% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.1±15 21% above U.S. |
| Penobscot 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% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Penobscot 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% |
32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Penobscot 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% |
32.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sullivan 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. |
$63,194±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$59,643±$14k 26% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$296,400±$58k 11% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$222,000±$33kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,141±$33 19% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$883±$114Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$2,228 29% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.9%±23.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Penobscot 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Penobscot 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 | Penobscot Public Schools | Plainfield School District | RSU 24 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Sumner Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.5 |
| 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.