What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).

Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).

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	Unity
People
Population	1,748Highest	1,375Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±3.1Lowest 15% above U.S.	58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S.
Kids under 18	23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%	12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hope and Unity 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.	$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S.
	Unity 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.	$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,219±$182Lowest 14% below U.S.	$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S.
	Unity and Hope 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.	$5,394Highest 73% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.8%±38.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Unity and Hope 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%	6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 25% below U.S.	35 minHighest 32% above U.S.
Work from home	18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hope and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Hope Public Schools	Unity 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.