Compare towns
Appleton vs Anson vs Orland vs Sullivan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Anson has the most affordable homes ($118k median).
Orland has the most people working from home (17%).
Sullivan has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Orland | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
2,331Highest |
1,915 |
1,246Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
-1.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
46.7±6.2Lowest 4% above ME |
50.6±4.2Highest 13% above ME |
47.1±15 5% 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%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Sullivan 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% |
27.5%±2Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.5%±2.9 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31.4% ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4 ME: 5.8% |
| Orland and Sullivan 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 |
$69,348±$29kHighest 7% below ME |
$59,643±$14k 20% below ME |
| Orland and Sullivan 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 |
$277,100±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
$222,000±$33k 25% below ME |
| Orland and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$928±$62 19% below ME |
$1,149±$177Highest about the ME average |
$883±$114Lowest 22% below ME |
| Orland and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
$2,089 31% below ME |
$2,228 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.8 ME: 48.4% |
34.9%±23.6 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% ME: 10.7% |
8.8% ME: 10.7% |
7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1972Lowest 5 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
40 minHighest 62% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Orland and Sullivan 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 | — | RSU 24 |
| High school in town | None in town | Carrabec High School | — | Sumner Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
— | 10.5Lowest |
| 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.