Compare towns
Appleton vs Liberty vs Springfield 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).
Liberty has the youngest population (median age 40.5).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Hope has the most expensive homes ($373k median).
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 | Liberty | Springfield | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
969Lowest |
9,084Highest |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
40.5±6.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% 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%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4Highest 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% |
21.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Springfield 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% |
43.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Springfield 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. |
$71,146±$15k 12% below U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
$86,766±$6kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Hope and Liberty 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. |
$229,600±$31k 31% below U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$559±$193Lowest 60% below U.S. |
$963±$100 32% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182Highest 14% 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. |
$2,434Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±42.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Springfield 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% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2Highest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Hope Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3 |
— |
| 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.