Compare towns
Appleton vs Manchester 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 most affordable homes ($236k median).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
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 | Manchester | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
115,643Highest |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
38±1Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
18%±1 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and Manchester 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% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Hope 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% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Manchester 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. |
$81,007±$2k about the U.S. average |
$86,766±$6kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Hope and Manchester 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. |
$365,600±$7k 10% above U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Hope and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,564±$37Highest 11% above U.S. |
$1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,922Highest 90% above U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Manchester 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% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hope and Manchester 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 | — | #115 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Hope Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.