What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).

Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Rollinsford	Appleton
People
Population	2,626Highest	1,360Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.8±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average	49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S.
	Appleton and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22%	15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Rollinsford and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Appleton and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Appleton and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,500±$26kHighest 11% above U.S.	$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S.
	Rollinsford and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$398,100±$33kHighest 20% above U.S.	$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,809±$394Highest 28% above U.S.	$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,851Highest 120% above U.S.	$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±26.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Appleton and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	25.9%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#94 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Rollinsford School District	Appleton Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.