Compare towns
Appleton vs Ascutney vs Hope
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the most renters (17.4% rent).
Ascutney has the oldest population (median age 64.4).
Hope has the highest household income ($87k).
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 | Appleton | Ascutney | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
381Lowest |
1,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
64.4±7.3Highest 66% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
44.9%±15Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ascutney and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$53,269±$46kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$86,766±$6kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$218,800±$91kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,219±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Hope and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,429Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$3,842Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— | 37.8%±38.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
16 minLowest 40% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±24.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hope and Ascutney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | Hope Public Schools |
| High school 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.