Compare towns
Wallingford vs Appleton vs Mount Holly vs Whitingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wallingford has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Mount Holly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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 | Wallingford | Appleton | Mount Holly | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,286Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,415 |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±10.8Lowest 18% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
53.5±8.2Highest 38% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
| Mount Holly and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±5 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Mount Holly and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitingham and Mount Holly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,230±$15kHighest about the U.S. average |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$78,015±$19k 3% below U.S. |
$70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
| Wallingford and Mount Holly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $261,900±$44k 21% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$296,900±$40kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$262,300±$30k 21% below U.S. |
| Mount Holly and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$95 37% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,534±$1kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
| Mount Holly and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,355 40% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,926 26% above U.S. |
$5,055Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.9%±65.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Mount Holly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mount Holly and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Appleton Public Schools | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| 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.