Compare towns
Randolph vs Appleton vs Waterville Valley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Randolph has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Waterville Valley has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Randolph | Appleton | Waterville Valley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 420 |
1,360Highest |
290Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 57.5±10.9 48% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
61.6±16.5Highest 58% above U.S. |
| Waterville Valley and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.5%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
8.6%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Appleton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.1%±9.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waterville Valley and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Randolph and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,750±$16k 26% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$105,625±$50kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Waterville Valley and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$57k 22% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$562,500±$193kHighest 69% above U.S. |
| Waterville Valley and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,667±$215Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,150±$382 19% below U.S. |
| Randolph and Waterville Valley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,269 37% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,745Highest 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±53.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.5%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.7%±12.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterville Valley and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | Waterville Valley School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.