Compare towns
Appleton vs Hope vs Ossipee vs Penobscot
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).
Penobscot has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
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 | Ossipee | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,748 |
4,521Highest |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%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. |
53.4±5.7Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Penobscot and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
18%±6 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% |
32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Penobscot 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% |
32.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Ossipee 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. |
$63,194±$14k 22% 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 |
$296,400±$58k 11% 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. |
$1,141±$33 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. |
$1,852Lowest 41% 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% |
73.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Penobscot 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% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest 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% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below 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% |
17.7%±13.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hope and Penobscot 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 | Penobscot Public Schools |
| High school in town | None 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.