Compare towns
Hope vs Unity vs Appleton vs Dedham
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 the most people working from home (18.3%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Dedham has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Unity | Appleton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,748Highest |
1,375 |
1,360Lowest |
1,656 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
46.5±2.2 20% above U.S. |
| Unity 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% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity 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% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Dedham 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. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$111,442±$18kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Unity 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±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$356,400±$33k 7% above U.S. |
| Hope and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,422±$607 about the U.S. average |
| Unity and Dedham 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. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,942 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Unity 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hope and Appleton 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 | Appleton Public Schools | Dedham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None 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.