What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Whitefield has the highest household income ($74k).

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	Whitefield
People
Population	1,360Lowest	2,157Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	+4.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME	51.9±5.2Highest 16% above ME
	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%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	17.6%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Whitefield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4%	29.1%±4.6Highest ME: 22.4%
	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%Highest ME: 36.2%	32.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	4%±2Highest ME: 5.8%
	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±$19kLowest 28% below ME	$73,875±$10kHighest about the ME average
	Whitefield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME	$242,300±$24kHighest 18% below ME
	Whitefield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME	$895±$126Lowest 21% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,588Highest 18% above ME	$2,366Lowest 22% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	33.3%±22.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	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%Highest ME: 10.7%	7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	91.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME	1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 23% above ME	30 minHighest 23% above ME
Work from home	11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	13.5%±6.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Whitefield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Appleton Public Schools	RSU 12
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.