Compare towns
Winchester vs Appleton vs Boscawen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Winchester has the youngest population (median age 42.6).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Boscawen has the most expensive homes ($287k 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 | Winchester | Appleton | Boscawen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,212Highest |
1,360Lowest |
4,044 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±4.5Lowest 10% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
46±4.2 18% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Winchester and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,723±$11k 16% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$77,328±$27kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Boscawen and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,900±$20k 27% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$286,500±$23kHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,209±$143 14% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,265±$307Highest 10% below U.S. |
| Boscawen and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,314 70% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$6,549Highest 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Appleton and Boscawen 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 | #120 of 120 in NH | — | #51 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winchester School District | Appleton Public Schools | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.