Compare towns
Appleton vs Danforth vs Orient 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 the youngest population (median age 49.2).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Orient has the most people working from home (81%).
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 | Danforth | Orient | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
452 |
137Lowest |
1,915Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | — | -0.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
51.9±5.3 16% above ME |
62±9Highest 38% above ME |
50.6±4.2 13% above ME |
| Orient and Danforth 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% |
14.8%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.8%±18.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Orient 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% |
22.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
46%±10.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
31.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
0%±11.4Lowest 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 |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
— | $69,348±$29kHighest 7% below ME |
| Orland and Appleton 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 |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$548,600±$183kHighest 85% above ME |
$277,100±$20k 7% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$629±$22Lowest 45% 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 |
— | — | $2,089Lowest 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Orient and Appleton 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% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
35.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
— | 40 minHighest 62% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
81%±44Highest ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | — | — |
| High school 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.