Compare towns
Appleton vs Union vs Whitefield 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
Union has the highest household income ($81k).
Whitefield has the most renters (37.4% rent).
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 | Union | Whitefield | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
2,663Highest |
2,516 |
1,249Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
51.4±4.6Highest 32% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9 22% above U.S. |
| Whitefield 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% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Strong 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% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitefield 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% |
34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whitefield 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. |
$80,724±$9kHighest about the U.S. average |
$63,125±$12k 22% below U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Union and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$240,400±$22k 28% below U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Union and Whitefield 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. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,077±$160 24% below U.S. |
$920±$276Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$4,394Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,950Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Whitefield 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% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strong and Union 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 | — | — | #86 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | White Mountains Regional School District | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | White Mountains Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.9 |
— |
| 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.