Compare towns
Hope vs Plainfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
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.
| Measure | Hope | Plainfield | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,748 |
2,522Highest |
1,360Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
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%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest 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% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,400±$33k 12% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Hope 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. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,842 23% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hope and Plainfield 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hope Public Schools | Plainfield 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.