Compare towns
Appleton vs Harmony vs Orland vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Harmony has the most renters (32.2% rent).
Orland has the most people working from home (17%).
Union has the most kids (24.9% 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 | Harmony | Orland | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
974Lowest |
1,915 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
52.9±2.5Highest 18% above ME |
50.6±4.2 13% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Harmony 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 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Harmony 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% |
22.9%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| 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% ME: 36.2% |
21.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| 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 28% below ME |
$54,063±$13k 28% below ME |
$69,348±$29k 7% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
| Union 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 |
$202,700±$58kLowest 32% below ME |
$277,100±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Orland and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
— | $1,149±$177 about the ME average |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,449Lowest 52% below ME |
$2,089 31% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
43.5%±100 ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.8 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| 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% ME: 10.7% |
15.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
67.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
32 min 30% above ME |
40 minHighest 62% above ME |
29 minLowest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.8%±8.2 ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Orland and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Harmony Public Schools | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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 |
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.