Compare towns
Union vs Middlesex 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).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
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.
| Measure | Union | Middlesex | Appleton | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663Highest |
1,943 |
1,360Lowest |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Hope 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% |
21.3%±3.1 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Union 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% |
54.7%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% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% 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. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33k 12% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Hope 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% |
3.8%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% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer 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. |
27 min 4% above 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% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Appleton Public Schools | Hope 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.