Compare towns
Appleton vs Chapman vs Milton 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).
Chapman has the most affordable homes ($186k median).
Milton has the most people working from home (18.9%).
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 | Chapman | Milton | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
388Lowest |
4,538Highest |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.7±11.4 17% above U.S. |
45.7±2.4 17% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Chapman 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% |
27.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±5 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Chapman 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% |
27.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chapman 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% |
22.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%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% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chapman 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. |
$93,125±$17k 15% above U.S. |
$94,493±$27kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
| Milton and Chapman 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. |
$185,700±$22kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Hope and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,587±$318Highest 12% above U.S. |
$1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
| Milton 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. |
$1,850Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$5,663Highest 82% above U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±24.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Milton 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Milton and Hope 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 | — | — | #116 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | Milton School District | Hope Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Nute High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.