Compare towns
Appleton vs Berlin vs Liberty 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).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Liberty has the youngest population (median age 40.5).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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 | Berlin | Liberty | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
2,880Highest |
969Lowest |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
40.5±6.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Appleton 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% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and Liberty 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% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin 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. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$71,146±$15k 12% below U.S. |
$86,766±$6kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Hope and Berlin 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. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$229,600±$31kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$559±$193Lowest 60% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Hope and Berlin 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. |
$4,418Highest 42% above U.S. |
$2,434Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±42.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Berlin 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% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hope and Liberty 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 | — | #16 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Hope Public Schools |
| 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.