Compare towns
Union vs Exeter vs Appleton vs Hope
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Exeter has the highest household income ($110k).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Hope has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Union | Exeter | Appleton | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
16,151Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Appleton Public Schools | Hope Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.