Compare towns
Wakefield vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs Effingham
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 highest household income ($101k).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
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 | Mapleton | Appleton | Effingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
1,884 |
1,360Lowest |
1,912 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1Highest 27% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
46.9±12.4 21% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Appleton 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Effingham 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest 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±$11kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$76,607±$14k 5% below U.S. |
| Wakefield and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,800±$43kHighest about the U.S. average |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$322,700±$30k 3% below U.S. |
| Wakefield and Effingham 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,090±$121 23% below U.S. |
| Wakefield and Appleton 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.6%±40.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Effingham and Wakefield 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Wakefield School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | Governor Wentworth 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.