Compare towns
Appleton vs Strafford vs West Windsor
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 most affordable homes ($236k median).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
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 | West Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,372Highest |
1,171Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+22.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
54±5.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
| West Windsor 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% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±10 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and West Windsor 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% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and West Windsor 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% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Windsor and Strafford 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. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$108,750±$18k 35% above U.S. |
| Strafford and West Windsor 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. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$393,500±$41k 18% above U.S. |
| Strafford and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,100±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$5,860 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Strafford School District | Mount Ascutney School District #86 |
| 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.