Compare towns
Hope vs Wolfeboro vs Appleton vs Camden
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%).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Camden has the most renters (26.5% rent).
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 | Wolfeboro | Appleton | Camden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,748 |
6,571Highest |
1,360Lowest |
5,242 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±3.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
52.2±6.5 34% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Camden 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% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and Camden 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% |
34.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
38%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Camden and Wolfeboro 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% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$82,344±$15k about the U.S. average |
| Wolfeboro 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±$33k 12% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$520,600±$70k 56% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Camden 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. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,269±$354Highest 10% below U.S. |
| Camden and Hope 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. |
$4,531 45% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,832Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Camden 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older 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. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Camden 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH | — | #11 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Hope Public Schools | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 28/MSAD 28 |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.