Compare towns

Ossipee vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Effingham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ossipee has the oldest population (median age 50).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).

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.

MeasureOssipeeAppletonMapletonEffingham
People
Population
4,521Highest
1,360Lowest
1,884
1,912
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+15.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50±4.6Highest
29% above U.S.
49.2±7.4
26% above U.S.
41.8±6Lowest
7% above U.S.
46.9±12.4
21% above U.S.
Ossipee and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.5%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
15.3%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.5%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
Mapleton and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.3%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.1%±9.3
U.S.: 17.2%
18.3%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.7%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Ossipee and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.1%±0.8Lowest
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
$90,521±$22k
12% above U.S.
$53,618±$19kLowest
34% below U.S.
$91,731±$25kHighest
14% above U.S.
$76,607±$14k
5% below U.S.
Mapleton and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$325,500±$23kHighest
about the U.S. average
$235,600±$33k
29% below U.S.
$191,800±$23kLowest
42% below U.S.
$322,700±$30k
3% below U.S.
Ossipee and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,601±$245Highest
13% above U.S.
$1,104±$82
22% below U.S.
$610±$277Lowest
57% below U.S.
$1,090±$121
23% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,401
41% above U.S.
$3,588
15% above U.S.
$1,789Lowest
43% below U.S.
$5,163Highest
66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
72%±16.3
U.S.: 51.1%
85.4%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±10.5
U.S.: 51.1%
13.6%±40.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Appleton and Ossipee 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%
9.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
27% above U.S.
30 min
14% above U.S.
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
32 min
19% above U.S.
Work from home
5.3%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
16.1%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Effingham 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 #100 of 120 in NH — — —
School district Governor Wentworth Regional School District Appleton Public Schools RSU 79/MSAD 01 Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town None 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.