Compare towns
Appleton vs Rochester vs Searsmont
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%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Searsmont has the highest household income ($87k).
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 | Searsmont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,389 |
1,646Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
53.3±7.6Highest 37% above U.S. |
44.5±9.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Rochester and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Appleton and Searsmont 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% |
31.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester 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% |
49%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Searsmont 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. |
$72,676±$8k 10% below U.S. |
$87,000±$20kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Searsmont and Rochester 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. |
$253,600±$81k 24% below U.S. |
$284,000±$31kHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Searsmont and Rochester 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. |
$929±$158Lowest 34% below U.S. |
$940±$311 33% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Searsmont 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. |
$3,977Highest 28% above U.S. |
$2,788Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±41.3Lowest 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% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±10.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rochester and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | RSU 71 |
| 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.