Compare towns
Appleton vs Middlesex vs Castle Hill 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 renters (17.4% rent).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Castle Hill has the most affordable homes ($145k median).
Hope has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
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 | Middlesex | Castle Hill | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,943Highest |
281Lowest |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
57.8±15.8Highest 49% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
| Castle Hill 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
44.8%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$54,250±$14k 33% below U.S. |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$145,300±$18kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33k 12% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$950±$574Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$1,449Lowest 54% below U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Castle Hill 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Hope Public Schools |
| 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.