Compare towns
Appleton vs Cherryfield vs Harmony 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%).
Cherryfield has the oldest population (median age 58.1).
Harmony has the most kids (16.4% under 18).
Orland has the highest household income ($69k).
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 | Cherryfield | Harmony | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
809Lowest |
974 |
1,915Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1% ME: +2.6% |
-12.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
52.9±2.5 18% above ME |
50.6±4.2 13% above ME |
| Cherryfield and Harmony 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% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Harmony and Appleton 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% |
32.4%±9.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2 ME: 22.4% |
| Cherryfield and Orland 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% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
21.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±1.8 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 |
$37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
$54,063±$13k 28% below ME |
$69,348±$29kHighest 7% below ME |
| Orland and Harmony 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 |
$195,800±$53kLowest 34% below ME |
$202,700±$58k 32% 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±$82 3% below ME |
$428±$107Lowest 62% below ME |
— | $1,149±$177Highest about the ME average |
| 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 |
$1,950 36% below ME |
$1,449Lowest 52% below ME |
$2,089 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
43.5%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Cherryfield 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% |
26.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
15.8% ME: 10.7% |
7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
67.8% ME: 74.3% |
87.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
30 minLowest 22% above ME |
32 min 30% above ME |
40 minHighest 62% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±10.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.8%±8.2 ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Cherryfield 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 | Cherryfield Public Schools | Harmony Public Schools | — |
| 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.