Compare towns
Appleton vs Gorham vs Orland vs Strong
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).
Orland has the most expensive homes ($277k median).
Strong has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
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 | Orland | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
2,682Highest |
1,915 |
1,249Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
50.6±4.2 30% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9Lowest 22% 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% |
14.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strong 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% |
27.5%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest 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±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$61,275±$7k 24% below U.S. |
$69,348±$29kHighest 14% below U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Orland and Gorham 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. |
$277,100±$20kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$183,900±$29k 45% 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±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,149±$177Highest 19% below U.S. |
$920±$276 35% 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. |
$2,089 33% below U.S. |
$1,950Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
45%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 51% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±11.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strong and Orland 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 58/MSAD 58 |
| 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.