Compare towns
Appleton vs Reading vs Hope vs Strong
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).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
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 | Reading | Hope | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
699Lowest |
1,748Highest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%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. |
47.5±8.9 22% 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% |
19.5%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and Strong 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% |
22%±4.1 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% |
26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$86,766±$6kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% 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±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$373,400±$33k 12% above U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% 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. |
$920±$276Lowest 35% 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. |
$1,950Lowest 37% 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%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest 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% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% 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. |
1971 9 yrs older 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. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Strong 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 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None 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.