Compare towns

Appleton vs Rye 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%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Liberty has the youngest population (median age 40.5).

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.

MeasureAppletonRyeLiberty
People
Population
1,360
5,611Highest
969Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.2±7.4
26% above U.S.
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
40.5±6.8Lowest
4% above U.S.
Rye 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%
18.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Liberty 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%
31.7%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.8%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Rye 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
0.4%±1.3Lowest
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±$19kLowest
34% below U.S.
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% above U.S.
$71,146±$15k
12% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$235,600±$33k
29% below U.S.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
$229,600±$31kLowest
31% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,104±$82
22% below U.S.
$1,781±$156Highest
26% above U.S.
$559±$193Lowest
60% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,588
15% above U.S.
$7,519Highest
141% above U.S.
$2,434Lowest
22% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
85.4%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
38.5%±42.4Lowest
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%
6.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
14% above U.S.
29 minLowest
9% above U.S.
38 minHighest
45% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.4%±8.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #2 of 120 in NH —
School district Appleton Public Schools Rye 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.