Compare towns

Appleton vs Franklin 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

Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Franklin has the most renters (35.8% rent).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Hope has the most people working from home (18.3%).

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.

MeasureAppletonFranklinMapletonHope
People
Population
1,360Lowest
8,799Highest
1,884
1,748
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.2±7.4Highest
26% above U.S.
42.7±2
10% above U.S.
41.8±6Lowest
7% above U.S.
44.6±3.1
15% 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%
17.8%±3.5
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%±9.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.3%±3.9
U.S.: 17.2%
18.3%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±1.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Appleton and Franklin 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%
19.1%Lowest
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%
3.2%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Mapleton 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.
$71,648±$4k
11% 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.
$262,200±$22k
21% below U.S.
$191,800±$23kLowest
42% below U.S.
$373,400±$33kHighest
12% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,104±$82
22% below U.S.
$1,110±$68
21% below U.S.
$610±$277Lowest
57% below U.S.
$1,219±$182Highest
14% below U.S.
Hope and Franklin 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.
$4,886Highest
57% 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%
38.8%±11.5
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.8%±38.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Appleton and Franklin 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%
7%
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%
64.2%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.
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
14% above U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above 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%
8.3%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
18.3%±10.2Highest
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
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #112 of 120 in NH — —
School district Appleton Public Schools Franklin School District RSU 79/MSAD 01 Hope Public Schools
High school in town None in town Franklin High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
16.2
— —
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.