Compare towns
Whitefield vs Appleton vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Appleton has the most people working from home (11.1%).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Whitefield | Appleton | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,516 |
1,360Lowest |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.6Highest 32% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Whitefield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitefield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whitefield and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,125±$12k 22% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Walpole and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$22k 28% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,077±$160Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,394 41% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±15.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Appleton and Whitefield 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 | #86 of 120 in NH | — | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | Appleton Public Schools | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | White Mountains Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.