Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton Beach has the most people working from home (26.9%).
Appleton has the most homeowners (82.6%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Hampton Beach | Appleton | Mapleton | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,605Highest |
1,360 |
1,884 |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
58.3±6.3 50% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.1%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,557±$17k about the U.S. average |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$82,361±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Mapleton and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$398,600±$65k 20% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,125±$201 20% below U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$2,823 9% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Newfound Area School District |
| 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.