Compare towns
Appleton vs Westminster 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).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Westminster | Hope | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
2,999Highest |
1,748 |
1,249Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1% 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. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9 22% above U.S. |
| Westminster 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% |
18.2%±4.7 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% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster 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% |
46.3% 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%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westminster 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. |
$71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
$86,766±$6kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$920±$276 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. |
$4,063Highest 30% 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% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Westminster 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% |
8.8% 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% |
88.2% 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. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Hope Public Schools | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— | — |
| 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.