Compare towns
Appleton vs Williston vs Hope
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Hope has the most kids (23.3% 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 | Williston | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and Williston 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%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$373,400±$33k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Lowest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Hope 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 |
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.