Compare towns
Appleton vs Strong vs Sunapee
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%).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Sunapee has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Strong | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,249Lowest |
3,416Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9Lowest 22% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strong and Appleton 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% |
22%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sunapee 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% |
26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sunapee 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±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$393,000±$51kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$920±$276Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$1,950Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$4,400Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strong and Appleton 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 | — | — | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
| 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.