Compare towns
Appleton vs Conway vs Mapleton 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
Conway has the oldest population (median age 55).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Conway | Mapleton | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
10,141Highest |
1,884 |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
55±4.1Highest 41% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
| Conway 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% |
12.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and Mapleton 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% |
35.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Conway 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% 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%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$64,385±$8k 20% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$86,766±$6k 7% 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. |
$314,000±$43k 6% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Hope and Conway 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. |
$1,095±$141 23% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% 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 | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,087Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.3%±13.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Conway 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% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hope and Conway 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 | — | #76 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Conway School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Hope Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Kennett High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
— | — |
| 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.