Compare towns
Hope vs Springfield vs Appleton vs Pownal
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%).
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Pownal has the most people working from home (23.9%).
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 | Springfield | Appleton | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,748Highest |
1,122Lowest |
1,360 |
1,696 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
47.2±8.4 21% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pownal 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%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Pownal 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% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pownal 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. |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$104,333±$14kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Pownal and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,400±$33k 12% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$436,800±$32kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Pownal and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$981±$636Lowest 31% 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. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,212 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
78.9%±22.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Pownal 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pownal and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Hope Public Schools | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 05 |
| 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 | 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.