Compare towns
Appleton vs Windsor vs Hope vs Penobscot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has the most renters (48.4% rent).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Penobscot has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
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 | Windsor | Hope | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
2,060Highest |
1,748 |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
44.6±12.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Penobscot 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% |
21.1%±8.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and Windsor 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% |
29.2%±8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Penobscot and Windsor 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% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Hope 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. |
$51,197±$4kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$86,766±$6kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$63,194±$14k 22% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$170,300±$22kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$296,400±$58k 11% below U.S. |
| Hope and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,002±$107Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,141±$33 19% below U.S. |
| Hope and Penobscot 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. |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±20Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Penobscot 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% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 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. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hope and Penobscot 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 | — | #61 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | Hope Public Schools | Penobscot 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.