Compare towns

Appleton vs Hampton Beach 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

Hampton Beach has the most people working from home (26.9%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Hope has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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.

MeasureAppletonHampton BeachMapletonHope
People
Population
1,360Lowest
2,605Highest
1,884
1,748
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+14.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.2±7.4
26% above U.S.
60.4±2.4Highest
55% above U.S.
41.8±6Lowest
7% above U.S.
44.6±3.1
15% above U.S.
Kids under 18
15.3%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
3.1%±2.8Lowest
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%
33.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.3%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±1.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Hampton Beach 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%
34%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%
0.6%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3
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.
$82,557±$17k
about the U.S. average
$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.
$508,900±$76kHighest
53% above U.S.
$191,800±$23kLowest
42% below U.S.
$373,400±$33k
12% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,104±$82
22% below U.S.
$1,375±$130Highest
about the U.S. average
$610±$277Lowest
57% below U.S.
$1,219±$182
14% below U.S.
Hampton Beach 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.
$6,115Highest
96% 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%
61.7%±20.2
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.8%±38.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Appleton and Hampton Beach 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%
8.2%
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%
62.9%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.
1971Lowest
9 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 minHighest
14% above U.S.
25 min
4% 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%
26.9%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.3%±10.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Hampton Beach and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Appleton Public Schools — RSU 79/MSAD 01 Hope Public Schools
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.