Compare towns
Appleton vs Dexter vs Union 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%).
Dexter has the most affordable homes ($171k median).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Dexter | Union | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
3,822Highest |
2,663 |
1,915 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
51±6.8Highest 14% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
50.6±4.2 13% above ME |
| Dexter 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 ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 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% |
16.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 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 |
$51,845±$18kLowest 31% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$69,348±$29k 7% below ME |
| Union 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 |
$170,600±$52kLowest 42% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
$277,100±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
| Orland and Union 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 |
$838±$119Lowest 26% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$1,149±$177 about the ME average |
| Union 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 |
$2,186 28% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
$2,089Lowest 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Dexter 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% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
87.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
40 minHighest 62% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Orland and Union 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 | — | #113 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | MSAD 46 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Dexter Regional High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.3 |
— | — |
| 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.