Compare towns

Appleton vs Hope vs Ossipee 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).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Ossipee has the highest household income ($91k).
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.

MeasureAppletonHopeOssipeeOrland
People
Population
1,360Lowest
1,748
4,521Highest
1,915
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.2±7.4
26% above U.S.
44.6±3.1Lowest
15% above U.S.
50±4.6
29% above U.S.
50.6±4.2Highest
30% above U.S.
Orland and Ossipee 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%
19.5%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
14.8%±5.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Hope and Ossipee 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%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.3%±5.9
U.S.: 17.2%
27.5%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Orland and Ossipee 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%
47.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
24.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.4%
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%
2.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Orland 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.
$86,766±$6k
7% above U.S.
$90,521±$22kHighest
12% above U.S.
$69,348±$29k
14% below U.S.
Ossipee 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±$33kLowest
29% below U.S.
$373,400±$33kHighest
12% above U.S.
$325,500±$23k
about the U.S. average
$277,100±$20k
17% below U.S.
Hope and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,104±$82Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,219±$182
14% below U.S.
$1,601±$245Highest
13% above U.S.
$1,149±$177
19% below U.S.
Ossipee 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.
$4,401Highest
41% above U.S.
$2,089Lowest
33% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
85.4%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.8%±38.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
72%±16.3
U.S.: 51.1%
45%±23.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Appleton and Ossipee 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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
14% above U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
33 min
27% above U.S.
40 minHighest
51% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
18.3%±10.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.3%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17%±11.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Hope and Orland 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 — — #100 of 120 in NH —
School district Appleton Public Schools Hope Public Schools Governor Wentworth Regional 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 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.