Compare towns
Appleton vs Rochester vs Union
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 oldest population (median age 49.2).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Rochester | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
33,144Highest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Rochester 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% |
18.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Union 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% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rochester 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. |
$80,836±$3kHighest about the U.S. average |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Rochester and Union 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. |
$279,100±$10kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Rochester and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,369±$72Highest 3% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Rochester and Union 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. |
$5,334Highest 71% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Rochester 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% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Rochester 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 | — | #98 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Rochester School District | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.2 |
— |
| 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.