Compare towns
Appleton vs Hope vs Royalton
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 the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Royalton has the most renters (36.5% rent).
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 | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,748 |
2,752Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
43.9±10.1Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Hope 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% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and Appleton 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% |
22.1%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Royalton 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% 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% |
8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Royalton 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. |
$103,938±$24kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Royalton 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. |
$263,200±$73k 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,040±$391Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Hope and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
$4,675Highest 50% 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% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest 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% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hope and Royalton 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 | — | — | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Hope Public Schools | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.