Compare towns
Appleton vs Freeport vs Strong vs Orland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freeport has the most expensive homes ($508k median).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Orland has the most homeowners (87.5%).
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 | Freeport | Strong | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
8,802Highest |
1,249Lowest |
1,915 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
48.8±4.3 9% above ME |
47.5±8.9Lowest 6% above ME |
50.6±4.2Highest 13% above ME |
| 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 ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Strong and Freeport 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% |
26.7%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Orland and Freeport 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% |
59.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Orland and Freeport 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 |
$107,326±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
$69,348±$29k 7% below ME |
| Freeport 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 |
$508,400±$76kHighest 71% above ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
$277,100±$20k 7% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,439±$123Highest 26% above ME |
$920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,149±$177 about the ME average |
| Freeport and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 18% above ME |
$5,042Highest 66% above ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
$2,089 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
62%±18.9 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Freeport 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% |
8.5% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
87.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
40 minHighest 62% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Freeport and Strong 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 | — | #4 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 05 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Freeport High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— | — |
| 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.