Compare towns
Appleton vs Whitefield 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).
Whitefield has the most renters (37.4% rent).
Hope has the most expensive homes ($373k median).
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 | Whitefield | Hope | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
2,516 |
1,748 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
51.4±4.6Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Whitefield 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% |
14.3%±4.6Lowest 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%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitefield 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% |
26.7%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%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whitefield 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. |
$63,125±$12k 22% below U.S. |
$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. |
$240,400±$22k 28% 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. |
$1,077±$160Lowest 24% 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. |
$4,394Highest 41% 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% |
47.9%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Whitefield 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% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.6%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. |
1965Lowest 15 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. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.7Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #86 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | White Mountains Regional School District | Hope Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | White Mountains Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9 |
— | — |
| 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.