Compare towns
Appleton vs Exeter vs Hope vs Orland
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).
Exeter has the highest household income ($110k).
Hope has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Orland has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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 | Exeter | Hope | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
16,151Highest |
1,748 |
1,915 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
50.6±4.2Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Orland 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% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orland 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Orland 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. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
$69,348±$29k 14% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$373,400±$33k 12% above U.S. |
$277,100±$20k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,149±$177 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
$2,089Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Exeter 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±11.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hope Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.