Compare towns
Hope vs Springfield vs Appleton vs Camden
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 most affordable homes ($192k median).
Camden has the most expensive homes ($521k 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 | Springfield | Appleton | Camden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,748 |
9,084Highest |
1,360Lowest |
5,242 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
52.2±6.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Camden 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% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and Springfield 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% |
23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
38%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Camden 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% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,766±$6kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$82,344±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Hope and Camden 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. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$520,600±$70kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
$963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,269±$354Highest 10% below U.S. |
| Camden 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. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,832Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Springfield 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% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Camden 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — | #11 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Hope Public Schools | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 28/MSAD 28 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— | — |
| 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.