Compare towns
Northfield vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs Pittsfield
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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Pittsfield has the most people working from home (11.6%).
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 | Mapleton | Appleton | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,971Highest |
1,884 |
1,360Lowest |
4,105 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.1 10% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.5±5.1Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Northfield 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Pittsfield 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Pittsfield 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% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$74,318±$14k 8% 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±$33k 13% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$294,800±$30kHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Pittsfield and Northfield 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. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,239±$182Highest 12% below U.S. |
| Pittsfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,097 63% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$5,694Highest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.1%±14.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.5%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pittsfield and Appleton 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 | — | — | #93 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | Pittsfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Pittsfield High School |
| 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.