Compare towns
Appleton vs Rye vs Penobscot vs Strong
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).
Penobscot has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k 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 | Rye | Penobscot | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
5,611Highest |
1,154Lowest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7 37% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rye and Penobscot 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% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strong 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%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Penobscot and Rye 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% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5%Lowest 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% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6 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±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$63,194±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$296,400±$58k 11% below U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,141±$33 19% below U.S. |
$920±$276Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,950 37% 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% |
73.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest 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% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Strong 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 | — | #2 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Rye School District | Penobscot Public Schools | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.