Compare towns
Appleton vs Wallingford vs Hope vs Union
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).
Wallingford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Wallingford | Hope | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
2,286 |
1,748 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.9±10.8 18% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Wallingford 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% |
18.7%±5 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Hope 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% |
23.9%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Wallingford 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% |
30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Union 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. |
$80,230±$15k about the U.S. average |
$86,766±$6kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Hope and Union 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. |
$261,900±$44k 21% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$891±$95Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Hope and Union 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. |
$4,355Highest 40% above U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 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% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% 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. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hope and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Hope Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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.