Compare towns
Appleton vs Panton vs Waltham 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).
Panton has the most people working from home (26.7%).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
Hope has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Panton | Waltham | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
690 |
452Lowest |
1,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
42.7±3.8Lowest 10% above U.S. |
60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
| Waltham 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% |
24.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Panton and Hope 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% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
39% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Waltham 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. |
$86,667±$10k 7% above U.S. |
$97,500±$14kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
| Waltham and Hope 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. |
$438,000±$40kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$329,700±$51k about the U.S. average |
$373,400±$33k 12% above U.S. |
| Panton 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. |
$1,410±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,096±$113Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
| Panton 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. |
$6,695Highest 115% above U.S. |
$5,714 83% above U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Panton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Panton and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| 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.