Compare towns
Appleton vs Bellows Falls 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).
Bellows Falls has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Hope has the most expensive homes ($373k 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 | Appleton | Bellows Falls | Strong | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
2,891Highest |
1,249Lowest |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
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% |
22.6%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and Bellows Falls 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% |
23.7%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Bellows Falls 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% |
27.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Appleton 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. |
$56,086±$2k 31% below U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$86,766±$6kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$195,600±$35k 41% below U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,038±$109 27% below U.S. |
$920±$276Lowest 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. |
$4,448Highest 43% above U.S. |
$1,950Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Bellows Falls 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% |
25.1%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% |
50.7%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. |
1938Lowest 42 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. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest 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 | ||||
| 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.