Compare towns
Appleton vs Cornish vs Hope vs Union
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 affordable homes ($236k median).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Cornish | Hope | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,816 |
1,748 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Cornish 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% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest 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% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish 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% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 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. |
$91,821±$2kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Cornish 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±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Hope and Cornish 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. |
$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Cornish 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. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Cornish 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hope and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Cornish School District | Hope Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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.