Compare towns
Union vs Winchester 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).
Winchester has the most renters (27.3% rent).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
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 | Winchester | Appleton | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
4,212Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%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. |
42.6±4.5 10% 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% |
18.9%±4.7 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% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest 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% |
20.3%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% |
2.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Union 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 |
$67,723±$11k 16% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$86,766±$6kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Hope and Union 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. |
$242,900±$20k 27% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,209±$143 14% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Hope and Winchester 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. |
$5,314Highest 70% 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% |
45%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1%Highest 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% |
72.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs 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. |
29 min 9% 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% |
4.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #120 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Winchester 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.