Compare towns
Appleton vs Dalton vs Hope vs Mapleton
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).
Dalton has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Hope has the most people working from home (18.3%).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
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 | Dalton | Hope | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
916Lowest |
1,748 |
1,884Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.5±12.9 14% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Hope 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% |
20.6%±11.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 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%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Hope 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% |
20.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dalton and Mapleton 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. |
$81,429±$36k about the U.S. average |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% 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. |
$191,400±$68kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$900±$825 36% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% 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. |
$3,561 14% above U.S. |
$3,842Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±83.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Dalton 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% |
19.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hope and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | Hope Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school 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.