Compare towns
Appleton vs Bennington vs Hope vs Mapleton
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).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Bennington | Hope | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,588 |
1,748 |
1,884Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Hope 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% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington 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% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Hope 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% |
33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$83,875±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Mapleton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$267,300±$15k 20% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Hope 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. |
$5,944Highest 91% above U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hope and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Contoocook Valley School District | Hope Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None 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.