Compare towns

Appleton vs Reading vs Hope vs Newburgh

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).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Newburgh has the most renters (18.8% rent).

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.

MeasureAppletonReadingHopeNewburgh
People
Population
1,360
699Lowest
1,748Highest
1,475
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.2±7.4
26% above U.S.
51.1±7.6Highest
31% above U.S.
44.6±3.1Lowest
15% above U.S.
45.8±5.7
18% above U.S.
Reading and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.3%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.5%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
Hope and Newburgh 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%
28.2%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.4%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Reading and Appleton 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%
46%
U.S.: 35.7%
47.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Newburgh 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.
$85,000±$19k
5% above U.S.
$86,766±$6kHighest
7% above U.S.
$76,750±$10k
5% below U.S.
Hope and Reading 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.
$377,200±$72kHighest
13% above U.S.
$373,400±$33k
12% above U.S.
$244,600±$20k
26% below U.S.
Reading 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.
$1,100±$331
22% below U.S.
$1,219±$182Highest
14% below U.S.
$950±$219Lowest
33% below U.S.
Hope and Appleton 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.
$5,754Highest
84% above U.S.
$3,842
23% above U.S.
$2,748Lowest
12% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
85.4%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±31.7
U.S.: 51.1%
37.8%±38.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.9%±13.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Appleton and Reading 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%
8.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
14% above U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
30 min
14% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±10.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.3%±10.2
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Reading 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 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 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.