Compare towns
Appleton vs Groton vs Orange
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%).
Groton has the highest household income ($77k).
Orange has the most people working from home (13.5%).
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 | Groton | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
967 |
957Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
45.7±5.8Lowest 17% above U.S. |
50.3±5.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Orange 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% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Groton 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% |
38.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Groton 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. |
$77,250±$14kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$71,302±$13k 12% below U.S. |
| Groton and Orange 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. |
$243,000±$70kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$222,000±$22kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Groton 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. |
$288±$151Lowest 80% below U.S. |
$1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Orange 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. |
$3,659Highest 17% above U.S. |
$3,545Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12.5%±72.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Groton 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% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orange and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.