Compare towns
Hope vs Strafford 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%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Strafford | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,748Highest |
1,372Lowest |
1,696 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
47.2±8.4 21% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Pownal 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%±5.2Lowest 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%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pownal and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Pownal 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. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$104,333±$14k 29% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,400±$33kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$436,800±$32kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Pownal and Strafford 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. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$981±$636Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Hope and Strafford 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. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$5,212 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.9%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pownal and Strafford 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% |
5.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest 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 | Strafford School District | 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 |
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.