Compare towns
West Windsor vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 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 | West Windsor | Mapleton | Appleton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,171Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,360 |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +22.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±5.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
| West Windsor and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±10 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Windsor and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,750±$18k 35% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Strafford and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $393,500±$41k 18% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Strafford and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$217 22% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,860 88% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% 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. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mount Ascutney School District #86 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | Strafford 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.