Compare towns

Hope vs Pelham 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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Pelham has the highest household income ($136k).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).

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.

MeasureHopePelhamAppleton
People
Population
1,748
14,449Highest
1,360Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±3.1
15% above U.S.
41.5±2.7Lowest
7% 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%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
15.3%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Hope and Pelham 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%
16.5%±1.8Lowest
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%
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Pelham and Appleton 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.
$135,956±$19kHighest
68% above U.S.
$53,618±$19kLowest
34% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$373,400±$33k
12% above U.S.
$552,600±$27kHighest
66% above U.S.
$235,600±$33kLowest
29% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,219±$182
14% below U.S.
$1,425±$88Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,104±$82Lowest
22% below U.S.
Pelham and Hope 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.
$8,634Highest
177% above U.S.
$3,588Lowest
15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.8%±38.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
67.3%±12.5
U.S.: 51.1%
85.4%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Appleton and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1987Lowest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1988
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
Work from home
18.3%±10.2
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Pelham and Hope 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 — #48 of 120 in NH —
School district Hope Public Schools Pelham School District Appleton Public Schools
High school in town None in town Pelham High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.4
—
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.