Compare towns
Union vs Plainfield 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).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
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.
| Measure | Union | Plainfield | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,663Highest |
2,522 |
1,360Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Union 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% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest 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% |
46.7%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%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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 |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Union 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. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Plainfield 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%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. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Union 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Plainfield 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.