Compare towns
Wakefield vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Loudon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wakefield has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Loudon has the most expensive homes ($363k 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.
| Measure | Wakefield | Appleton | Mapleton | Loudon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,405 |
1,360Lowest |
1,884 |
5,692Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.5±3.2Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Loudon and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,976±$11k 25% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$106,966±$16kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Loudon and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,800±$43k about the U.S. average |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$363,400±$48kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Loudon and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,321±$465 7% below U.S. |
| Wakefield and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,954 5% below U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,821Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±30.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield and Appleton 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 | #118 of 120 in NH | — | — | #99 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Merrimack Valley 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.