Compare towns
Appleton vs Barton vs Strong 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 oldest population (median age 49.2).
Barton has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Barton | Strong | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
730Lowest |
1,249 |
1,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.5±8.9 22% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Strong 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. |
$40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$47,557±$10k 41% below U.S. |
$86,766±$6kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$183,900±$29k 45% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$920±$276 35% 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. |
$3,185 about the U.S. average |
$1,950Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$3,842Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.8%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strong and Hope 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 | — | #38 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | Hope Public Schools |
| 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 | 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.