Compare towns
Appleton vs Dummerston vs Orland vs Hope
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 the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Orland has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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 | Dummerston | Orland | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
2,090Highest |
1,915 |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
50.6±4.2Highest 30% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Orland and Appleton 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% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 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. |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$69,348±$29k 14% below U.S. |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$277,100±$20k 17% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Hope and Dummerston 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. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$177 19% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Hope 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. |
$4,536Highest 45% above U.S. |
$2,089Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
45%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Orland 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% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 51% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±11.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Hope 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 |
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.