What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hope has the most people working from home (18.3%).

Stoddard has the oldest population (median age 53).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hope	Stoddard
People
Population	1,748Highest	1,072Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±3.1Lowest 15% above U.S.	53±4Highest 36% above U.S.
Kids under 18	23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%	17.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hope and Stoddard 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%	24.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stoddard 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%	34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Stoddard and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,766±$6kLowest 7% above U.S.	$94,904±$11kHighest 18% above U.S.
	Stoddard and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S.	$330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average
	Hope and Stoddard 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.	$895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S.
	Hope and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,842Lowest 23% above U.S.	$4,316Highest 38% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.8%±38.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52.6%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stoddard and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 25% below U.S.	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.
Work from home	18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hope and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Hope Public Schools	Stoddard School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.