Compare towns
Union vs Washington 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).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 55).
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 | Washington | Appleton | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663Highest |
1,208Lowest |
1,360 |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% 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. |
55±4.7Highest 41% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
| Washington and Appleton 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% |
13.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 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% |
29%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Appleton 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% |
32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington 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 |
$89,453±$12kHighest 11% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
| Washington and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$358,600±$32k 8% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Hope and Washington 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. |
$1,106±$160 22% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Hope and Union 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. |
$4,321Highest 39% 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%±88.9Lowest 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%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. |
1983 3 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. |
36 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hope and Union 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 School District | 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.