Compare towns
Appleton vs Jackson vs Belfast vs Orland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Belfast has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Orland has the most people working from home (17%).
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 | Jackson | Belfast | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
567Lowest |
6,986Highest |
1,915 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4% ME: +2.6% |
-0.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
60.6±3.1Highest 35% above ME |
50.6±4.2 13% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Jackson and Appleton 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% |
17.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
39.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% ME: 36.2% |
41.9% ME: 36.2% |
42.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±4.6Highest 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 |
$75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average |
$67,679±$9k 9% below ME |
$69,348±$29k 7% below ME |
| Jackson 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 |
$231,500±$16kLowest 22% below ME |
$340,900±$34kHighest 15% above ME |
$277,100±$20k 7% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$962±$92 16% below ME |
$1,149±$177Highest about the ME average |
| Orland and Appleton 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 |
$2,651 13% below ME |
$4,145Highest 37% above ME |
$2,089Lowest 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
47.4%±14.4 ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Belfast 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% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.6% ME: 74.3% |
68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
22 minLowest 13% below ME |
40 minHighest 62% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
12%±6 ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Orland and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #84 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 71 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Belfast Area High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
— |
| 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.