Compare towns
Appleton vs North Bennington vs Windsor 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).
North Bennington has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($170k 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 | North Bennington | Windsor | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,336Lowest |
2,060Highest |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
43.9±10Lowest 13% above U.S. |
44.6±12.3 15% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Windsor 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% |
10.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±8.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and Windsor 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% |
31.9%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Bennington and Windsor 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% |
41.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
21.6%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$68,571±$10k 15% below U.S. |
$51,197±$4kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$86,766±$6kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$313,000±$40k 6% below U.S. |
$170,300±$22kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Hope and North Bennington 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. |
$1,447±$278Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,002±$107Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
| North Bennington and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,590Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.7%±26.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±20Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and North Bennington 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% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
61.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.3%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hope and North Bennington 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 | — | — | #61 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | — | Hope Public Schools |
| High school 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.