Compare towns
Appleton vs Anson vs Hope vs Orland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Anson has the most affordable homes ($118k median).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Orland has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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 | Appleton | Anson | Hope | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
2,331Highest |
1,748 |
1,915 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
46.7±6.2 4% above ME |
44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average |
50.6±4.2Highest 13% above ME |
| Orland and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Orland and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% ME: 36.2% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Orland and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$52,474±$21kLowest 30% below ME |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$69,348±$29k 7% below ME |
| Hope and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$277,100±$20k 7% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$928±$62Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$1,149±$177 about the ME average |
| Hope and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 18% above ME |
$1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$2,089 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.8% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1972Lowest 5 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
40 minHighest 62% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | Hope Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Carrabec High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.