Compare towns
Appleton vs Lyndeborough vs Mapleton 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
Lyndeborough has the highest household income ($117k).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Lyndeborough | Mapleton | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,616 |
1,884Highest |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
50±3.2Highest 29% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough 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% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and Mapleton 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% |
22.6%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Lyndeborough 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% |
40.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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. |
$116,964±$17kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Mapleton 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. |
$390,900±$26kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33k 12% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough 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. |
$1,482±$457Highest 5% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
| Lyndeborough 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. |
$7,133Highest 129% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%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. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hope and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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.