Compare towns
Appleton vs Brighton vs Newark 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%).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Newark has the most kids (22% under 18).
Orland has the most people working from home (17%).
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 | Brighton | Newark | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,167 |
727Lowest |
1,915Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
41.4±6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
50.6±4.2Highest 30% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
22%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Newark and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orland and Brighton 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% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orland and Brighton 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 34% below U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$72,929±$7kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$69,348±$29k 14% below U.S. |
| Newark 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 29% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$229,900±$23k 31% below U.S. |
$277,100±$20kHighest 17% below U.S. |
| 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 22% below U.S. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,708±$97Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,149±$177 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,360 8% above U.S. |
$3,771Highest 21% above U.S. |
$2,089Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Brighton 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% |
22% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orland and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Brighton School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — |
| 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.