Compare towns
Appleton vs Strong vs West 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 most renters (17.4% rent).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
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 | Strong | West Windsor | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,249 |
1,171Lowest |
1,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+22.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9 22% above U.S. |
54±5.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| West Windsor 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% |
19.5%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±10 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and West 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Windsor 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±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$108,750±$18kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
| West Windsor 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±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$393,500±$41kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$373,400±$33k 12% above U.S. |
| West Windsor 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. |
$920±$276Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,100±$217 22% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182Highest 14% 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. |
$1,950Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$5,860Highest 88% above U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Hope 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% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strong 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 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | Mount Ascutney School District #86 | Hope Public Schools |
| 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.