Compare towns
Appleton vs Gorham vs Mapleton 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%).
Gorham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% 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 | Gorham | Mapleton | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
2,682Highest |
1,884 |
1,915 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
50.6±4.2 30% above U.S. |
| Gorham 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% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham and Orland 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% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Orland 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. |
$61,275±$7k 24% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$69,348±$29k 14% below U.S. |
| Mapleton 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. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% 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. |
$838±$83 41% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% 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 | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,334Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$2,089 33% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45%±23.8 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 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 | — | #57 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— | — |
| 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.