Compare towns
Appleton vs Hope vs North Hampton
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).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k median).
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 | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,748 |
4,543Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and North Hampton 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% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and North Hampton 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% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and North Hampton 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. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33k 12% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
$8,529Highest 173% 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% |
23.5%±21Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Hampton 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 | — | — | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Hope Public Schools | North Hampton School District |
| 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 |
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.