Compare towns
Appleton vs Hope vs Mapleton vs Sunapee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hope has the most people working from home (18.3%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
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 | Hope | Mapleton | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,748 |
1,884 |
3,416Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Sunapee 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% |
23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest 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% |
21.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sunapee 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% |
47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Sunapee 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. |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Mapleton 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. |
$373,400±$33k 12% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$393,000±$51kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sunapee 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. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,400Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Hope 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% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest 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 | — | — | — | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Hope Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.9 |
| 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.