Compare towns
Appleton vs Hope vs Wallingford 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%).
Wallingford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
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 | Wallingford | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,748 |
2,286Highest |
1,915 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% 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. |
45.9±10.8 18% 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% |
18.7%±5 U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hope and Wallingford 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% |
23.9%±3.2 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% |
30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 34% below U.S. |
$86,766±$6kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$80,230±$15k about the U.S. average |
$69,348±$29k 14% below U.S. |
| Hope and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$261,900±$44k 21% below U.S. |
$277,100±$20k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$891±$95Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,149±$177 19% below U.S. |
| Hope and Orland 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. |
$4,355Highest 40% 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% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5%Lowest 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. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest 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 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | — |
| 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 |
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.