Compare towns
Appleton vs Sutton vs Hope vs Searsmont
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).
Sutton has the highest household income ($130k).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Searsmont has the youngest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Sutton | Hope | Searsmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
2,239Highest |
1,748 |
1,646 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1 24% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
44.5±9.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Sutton 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% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and Sutton 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% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Sutton 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% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Searsmont and Sutton 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. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
$87,000±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Searsmont 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. |
$362,600±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$284,000±$31k 15% below U.S. |
| Hope and Sutton 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. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
$940±$311Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Hope 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. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
$2,788Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Searsmont 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±10.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hope and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Kearsarge Regional School District | Hope Public Schools | RSU 71 |
| High school in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| 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.