Compare towns
Appleton vs Hope 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 the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Orland has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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 | Hope | Orland | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,748 |
1,915 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
50.6±4.2Highest 13% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below 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% |
23.3%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Hope 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% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 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% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$69,348±$29k 7% below ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Hope and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$277,100±$20k 7% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$1,149±$177 about the ME average |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Hope and Union 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 |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$2,089Lowest 31% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 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% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.1% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
40 minHighest 62% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Hope Public Schools | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.