Compare towns
Hope vs Rye vs Appleton vs Readfield
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%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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 | Rye | Appleton | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,748 |
5,611Highest |
1,360Lowest |
2,651 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
48.1±7.6 24% above U.S. |
| Rye 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% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Appleton 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% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Readfield 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. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$86,504±$8k 7% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,400±$33k 12% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$326,400±$20k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,842 23% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,392Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Rye 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Readfield 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 | — | #2 of 120 in NH | — | #20 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Hope Public Schools | Rye School District | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.5 |
| 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.