Compare towns
Appleton vs Atkinson vs Union vs Orland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Atkinson has the most expensive homes ($555k median).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Orland has the oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
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 | Atkinson | Union | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
7,267Highest |
2,663 |
1,915 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
50.6±4.2 30% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orland and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$69,348±$29k 14% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$277,100±$20k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,140±$32 19% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,149±$177 19% below U.S. |
| Union and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$6,918Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$2,089Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±11.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson and Orland 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 | — | #32 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Timberlane Regional School District | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — |
| High school 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.