What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).

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

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	Strafford	Hope
People
Population	1,372Lowest	1,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S.	44.6±3.1Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Strafford and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hope and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Strafford and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	47.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Strafford and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S.	$86,766±$6kLowest 7% above U.S.
	Strafford and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S.	$373,400±$33kLowest 12% above U.S.
	Strafford and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S.	$1,219±$182Highest 14% 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	$7,149Highest 129% above U.S.	$3,842Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.8%±38.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Strafford and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 13% below U.S.	20 minLowest 25% below U.S.
Work from home	16.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hope and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Strafford School District	Hope Public Schools
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.