Compare towns
Appleton vs Hope vs Sutton 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 the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($130k).
Orland has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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 | Sutton | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,748 |
2,239Highest |
1,915 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1 24% above U.S. |
50.6±4.2Highest 30% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and Sutton 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% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orland and Sutton 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. |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$69,348±$29k 14% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$362,600±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$277,100±$20k 17% below U.S. |
| Hope and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,149±$177 19% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Hope 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. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$2,089Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest 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% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±11.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Kearsarge Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.