What stands out worked out from the figures below

Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).

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	Unity	Hope
People
Population	1,375Lowest	1,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S.	44.6±3.1Lowest 15% above U.S.
Kids under 18	12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hope and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S.	$86,766±$6kLowest 7% above U.S.
	Unity and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S.	$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S.	$1,219±$182Lowest 14% below U.S.
	Unity and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,394Highest 73% above U.S.	$3,842Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.8%±38.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Unity and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	92.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 32% above U.S.	20 minLowest 25% below U.S.
Work from home	9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hope and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Unity 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.