Compare towns
Appleton vs Wells 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).
Wells has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
Hope has the most people working from home (18.3%).
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.
| Measure | Appleton | Wells | Hope | Newburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,148Lowest |
1,748Highest |
1,475 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% 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. |
50.7±5.2Highest 30% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.8±5.7 18% above U.S. |
| Wells and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest 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%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Wells 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% |
29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 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. |
$75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
$86,766±$6kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$76,750±$10k 5% below U.S. |
| Hope and Newburgh 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. |
$243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$244,600±$20k 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
$950±$219Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Wells 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. |
$3,308 6% above U.S. |
$3,842Highest 23% above U.S. |
$2,748Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±13.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Wells 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% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 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. |
48 minHighest 80% 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% |
11.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hope and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | 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.