Compare towns
Unity vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs Charlestown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Charlestown has the shortest commute (24 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 | Unity | Mapleton | Appleton | Charlestown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,375 |
1,884 |
1,360Lowest |
4,889Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
41.6±8.5Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Unity and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Charlestown and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
12.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$47,338±$23kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$228,000±$62k 31% below U.S. |
| Unity and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,099±$85 22% below U.S. |
| Unity and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$5,143 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±24.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Appleton and Mapleton 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 | — | — | — | #113 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Unity School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | Fall Mountain 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.