Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs Hampton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Appleton has the most homeowners (82.6%).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($545k 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 | Hampton Beach | Mapleton | Appleton | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,605 |
1,884 |
1,360Lowest |
10,101Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7 32% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7 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 |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$97,163±$4kHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$545,300±$63kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,654±$93Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,115 96% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$6,872Highest 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampton 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 | — | — | — | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | — |
| High school 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.