Compare towns
Hope vs Keene vs Appleton vs Dedham
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Dedham has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Keene | Appleton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,748 |
22,939Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,656 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
46.5±2.2 20% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Hope 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% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$111,442±$18kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$356,400±$33k 7% above U.S. |
| Hope and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,422±$607Highest about the U.S. average |
| Dedham and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,842 23% above U.S. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,942 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Keene 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% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hope and Keene 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Hope Public Schools | Keene School District | Appleton Public Schools | Dedham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| 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.