Compare towns
Appleton vs Strafford 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%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($428k 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.
| Measure | Appleton | Strafford | Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
4,306Highest |
969Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
40.5±6.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Strafford 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% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Liberty and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Liberty 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% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford 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. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$71,146±$15k 12% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$427,900±$29kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$229,600±$31kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
$559±$193Lowest 60% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$6,086Highest 95% above U.S. |
$2,434Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±42.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Strafford 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
36 min 36% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Liberty 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 | — | #73 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Strafford 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.