Compare towns

Union vs Grantham vs Appleton

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).

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.

MeasureUnionGranthamAppleton
People
Population
2,663
3,465Highest
1,360Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+14%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.6±5.3Lowest
7% above U.S.
50.4±7.5Highest
30% above U.S.
49.2±7.4
26% above U.S.
Grantham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
24.9%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.1%±6.6
U.S.: 22%
15.3%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Union and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.4%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
17%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.1%±9.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Appleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Grantham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,724±$9k
about the U.S. average
$106,403±$54kHighest
32% above U.S.
$53,618±$19kLowest
34% below U.S.
Grantham and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$267,600±$42k
20% below U.S.
$343,100±$39kHighest
3% above U.S.
$235,600±$33kLowest
29% below U.S.
Grantham and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,179±$452Highest
17% below U.S.
—
$1,104±$82Lowest
22% below U.S.
Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,276Lowest
5% above U.S.
$7,605Highest
144% above U.S.
$3,588
15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
24.6%±19.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
—
85.4%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Appleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
0%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
100%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1987
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
11% above U.S.
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
Work from home
15.9%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.8%±6.2
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Union and Grantham 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 — #6 of 120 in NH —
School district RSU 40/MSAD 40 Grantham School District Appleton Public Schools
High school in town None 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.