Compare towns
Appleton vs Brandon vs Leicester 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).
Brandon has the most affordable homes ($228k median).
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 | Brandon | Leicester | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
4,120Highest |
1,026Lowest |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
48.8±3.8 25% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Brandon 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% |
19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and Brandon 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% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Leicester 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% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Brandon 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. |
$64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
$70,417±$30k 13% below U.S. |
$86,766±$6kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Hope and Leicester 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. |
$227,800±$23kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$309,700±$107k 7% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Hope and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,064±$225Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,098±$300 22% 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 | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,241Highest 36% above U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Brandon 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% |
14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs 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 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hope and Leicester 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 | — | #69 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — | Hope Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— | — |
| 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.