Compare towns
Appleton vs Hope vs Springfield vs Liberty
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 renters (17.4% rent).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Springfield has the highest household income ($101k).
Liberty has the youngest population (median age 40.5).
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 | Springfield | Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,748Highest |
1,122 |
969Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
40.5±6.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Springfield 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% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and Liberty 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%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Liberty 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% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.4% 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% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Hope 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. |
$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$71,146±$15k 12% below U.S. |
| Springfield 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±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33k 12% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$229,600±$31kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Springfield 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±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
$559±$193Lowest 60% 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 | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
$2,434Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±42.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Liberty 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hope and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Hope Public Schools | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| 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.