What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alna has the most kids (32.9% under 18).

Orland has the most affordable homes ($277k median).

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	Alna	Orland
People
Population	818Lowest	1,915Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.1%Highest ME: +2.6%	-0.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40.7±10.5Lowest 9% below ME	50.6±4.2Highest 13% above ME
	Orland and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	32.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1%	14.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	17.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4%	27.5%±2Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.3%Highest ME: 36.2%	31.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.8%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8%
	Orland and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,125±$16kHighest 25% above ME	$69,348±$29kLowest 7% below ME
	Alna and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$367,400±$55kHighest 24% above ME	$277,100±$20kLowest 7% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,088±$176Lowest 4% below ME	$1,149±$177Highest about the ME average
	Orland and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,667Highest 21% above ME	$2,089Lowest 31% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±70.4Lowest ME: 48.4%	45%±23.8Highest ME: 48.4%
	Orland and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%	7.1%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	87.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978 1 yr newer than ME	1978 1 yr newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 41% above ME	40 minHighest 62% above ME
Work from home	16.4%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	17%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Orland and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.