Compare towns
Appleton vs Braintree vs Union 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
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Braintree | Union | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,026Lowest |
2,663Highest |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Hope 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% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree 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% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Union 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. |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$86,766±$6kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Hope and Union 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. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Hope and Union 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. |
$3,908Highest 25% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Braintree 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% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% 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. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | 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.