Compare towns
Hope vs Mapleton vs Northfield 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 people working from home (18.3%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Northfield has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
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 | Mapleton | Northfield | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,748 |
1,884 |
4,971Highest |
1,360Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.6±5.1 10% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Hope 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% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest 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% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northfield and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$92,917±$15kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Northfield and Mapleton 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$288,500±$33k 13% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,076±$182 24% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 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 | $3,842 23% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,097Highest 63% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.1%±14.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Hope 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 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 | — | — | #109 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hope Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Winnisquam Regional School District | Appleton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None 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.