Compare towns
Appleton vs Brooks vs Waldo vs Orland
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%).
Brooks has the most renters (25.4% rent).
Waldo has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Orland has the most expensive 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.
| Measure | Appleton | Brooks | Waldo | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,208 |
926Lowest |
1,915Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
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% |
17.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Waldo and Brooks 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% |
17%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest 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% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±4.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$59,130±$10k 21% below ME |
$71,458±$21kHighest 4% below ME |
$69,348±$29k 7% below ME |
| Waldo 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 |
$196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME |
$208,000±$41k 30% below ME |
$277,100±$20kHighest 7% 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±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,116±$112 about the ME average |
$1,150±$691Highest about the ME average |
$1,149±$177 about the ME average |
| Waldo and Orland 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 |
$2,096 31% below ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,089 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3 ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Waldo 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% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
87.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
40 minHighest 62% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Orland and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Waldo-Region 7 | — |
| 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 |
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.