Compare towns
Croydon vs Mapleton vs Appleton 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
Croydon has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Sunapee has the most expensive homes ($393k 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 | Croydon | Mapleton | Appleton | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 798Lowest |
1,884 |
1,360 |
3,416Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±9.1 11% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% 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 | 19%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sunapee and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,333±$21k 22% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $317,300±$33k 5% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$393,000±$51kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $991±$336 30% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806 22% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,400Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±75.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest 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 | 6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.3%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Appleton and Mapleton 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 | Croydon School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.