Compare towns
Appleton vs Windsor vs Strong vs Searsmont
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%).
Windsor has the most renters (48.4% rent).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Searsmont has the highest household income ($87k).
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 | Windsor | Strong | Searsmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
2,060Highest |
1,249Lowest |
1,646 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.6±12.3 15% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9 22% above U.S. |
44.5±9.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Strong 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% |
21.1%±8.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windsor 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% |
29.2%±8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor 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% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
10%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Searsmont 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. |
$51,197±$4k 37% below U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$87,000±$20kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Searsmont 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±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$170,300±$22kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$183,900±$29k 45% below U.S. |
$284,000±$31kHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Searsmont 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 22% below U.S. |
$1,002±$107 29% below U.S. |
$920±$276Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$940±$311 33% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Windsor 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. |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,950Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$2,788 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±20 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±10.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strong and Searsmont 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 | — | #61 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 71 |
| 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 | 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.