Compare towns
Appleton vs Lancaster vs Union vs Hope
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 oldest population (median age 49.2).
Lancaster has the most renters (24.9% rent).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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 | Lancaster | Union | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
3,216Highest |
2,663 |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Lancaster 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% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Hope 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% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Appleton 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% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Union 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. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$86,766±$6kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Hope and Union 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. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Hope and Union 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. |
$4,226Highest 35% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 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% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hope and Union 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | White Mountains Regional School District | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Hope 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.