Compare towns

Appleton vs Derby 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%).
Derby has the highest household income ($80k).
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.

MeasureAppletonDerbyOrland
People
Population
1,360Lowest
4,537Highest
1,915
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.2±7.4Lowest
26% above U.S.
51.6±2.1Highest
33% above U.S.
50.6±4.2
30% above U.S.
Derby and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.3%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.8%±5.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Derby and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.1%±9.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.2%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
27.5%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Orland and Derby 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%
36.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±1.1Lowest
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.
$80,250±$8kHighest
about the U.S. average
$69,348±$29k
14% below U.S.
Derby 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.
$225,000±$10kLowest
32% 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.
$1,096±$118Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,149±$177Highest
19% below U.S.
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
15% above U.S.
$3,449
11% above U.S.
$2,089Lowest
33% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
85.4%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.8%±18.5
U.S.: 51.1%
45%±23.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Appleton and Derby 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%
7.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minLowest
14% above U.S.
32 min
23% above U.S.
40 minHighest
51% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
10.6%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17%±11.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Orland and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #52 of 70 in VT —
School district Appleton Public Schools Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.