Compare towns

Appleton vs Windsor vs Castle Hill 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

Windsor has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Castle Hill has the most affordable homes ($145k median).
Hope has the most people working from home (18.3%).

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.

MeasureAppletonWindsorCastle HillHope
People
Population
1,360
3,554Highest
281Lowest
1,748
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+10.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.2±7.4
26% above U.S.
44.8±6.5
15% above U.S.
57.8±15.8Highest
49% above U.S.
44.6±3.1Lowest
15% above U.S.
Castle Hill 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%
19.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
14.2%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±5.4Highest
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%
29.7%±6.9
U.S.: 17.2%
44.8%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
39.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
26.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.7%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±5.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Appleton and Castle Hill 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.
$52,484±$11kLowest
35% below U.S.
$54,250±$14k
33% below U.S.
$86,766±$6kHighest
7% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$235,600±$33k
29% below U.S.
$207,500±$31k
38% below U.S.
$145,300±$18kLowest
56% below U.S.
$373,400±$33kHighest
12% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,104±$82
22% below U.S.
$1,026±$89
27% below U.S.
$950±$574Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,219±$182Highest
14% 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.
$5,209Highest
67% above U.S.
$1,449Lowest
54% below U.S.
$3,842
23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
85.4%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.5%±17Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
75%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
37.8%±38.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Appleton and Castle Hill 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%
7.8%
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%
57.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
19 minLowest
29% below U.S.
20 min
25% below U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
10.3%±5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.3%±9.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.3%±10.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hope and Appleton 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
High school in town None in town — — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 12 photos → 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.