Compare towns
Appleton vs Cornish vs Lyndeborough 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%).
Cornish has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Lyndeborough has the most expensive homes ($391k median).
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 | Cornish | Lyndeborough | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,816 |
1,616 |
1,915Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
50±3.2 29% above U.S. |
50.6±4.2 30% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Appleton and Lyndeborough 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% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orland and Cornish 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% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$116,964±$17kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$69,348±$29k 14% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$390,900±$26kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$277,100±$20k 17% below U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,482±$457Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,149±$177 19% below U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Cornish 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. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
$7,133Highest 129% above U.S. |
$2,089Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90 U.S.: 51.1% |
45%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% 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. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
39 min 48% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orland and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Cornish School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 7 photos → | 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.