Compare towns
Northfield vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the most expensive homes ($289k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Franklin has the most renters (35.8% rent).
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 | Northfield | Appleton | Mapleton | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,971 |
1,360Lowest |
1,884 |
8,799Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.1 10% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.7±2 10% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northfield and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,917±$15kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$71,648±$4k 11% below U.S. |
| Northfield and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,500±$33kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$262,200±$22k 21% below U.S. |
| Northfield and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,076±$182 24% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,110±$68Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Franklin and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,097Highest 63% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,886 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.1%±14.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±4.1 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 | #109 of 120 in NH | — | — | #112 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Franklin High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 16.2 |
| 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.