What stands out worked out from the figures below

Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).

Wakefield 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Appleton	Wakefield
People
Population	1,360Lowest	5,405Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S.	49.4±4.1Highest 27% above U.S.
	Wakefield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Wakefield and Appleton 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%	18.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Appleton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Appleton and Wakefield 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.	$100,976±$11kHighest 25% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S.	$322,800±$43kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average
	Wakefield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,588Highest 15% above U.S.	$2,954Lowest 5% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Appleton and Wakefield 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%	7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 14% above U.S.	36 minHighest 35% above U.S.
Work from home	11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	15.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wakefield 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	—	#118 of 120 in NH
School district	Appleton Public Schools	Wakefield School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.