Compare towns
Hope vs Westminster vs Appleton
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%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k 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 | Westminster | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,748 |
2,999Highest |
1,360Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
| Westminster 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% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and Westminster 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% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westminster and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,766±$6kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
| Hope and Appleton 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. |
$4,063Highest 30% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Westminster 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% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Hope Public Schools | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Appleton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.