Compare towns
Hope vs Jay vs Appleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hope has the most expensive homes ($373k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Appleton has the most renters (17.4% rent).
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 | Hope | Jay | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,748Highest |
471Lowest |
1,360 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
| Jay and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest 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+ | 47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest 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 | $86,766±$6kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Hope and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
— | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% 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 | $3,842Highest 23% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Lowest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Hope Public Schools | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Appleton 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.