Compare towns
Appleton vs Jackson vs Orland vs Sullivan
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%).
Orland has the most expensive homes ($277k median).
Sullivan has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Orland | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
567Lowest |
1,915Highest |
1,246 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
-1.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
50.6±4.2Highest 13% above ME |
47.1±15 5% above 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% |
17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Sullivan and Jackson 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% |
27.5%±2Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.5%±2.9 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% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.4% ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4 ME: 5.8% |
| Orland and Sullivan 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 |
$69,348±$29k 7% below ME |
$59,643±$14k 20% 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±$16k 22% below ME |
$277,100±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
$222,000±$33kLowest 25% below ME |
| Orland and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,149±$177Highest about the ME average |
$883±$114 22% below ME |
| Orland and Appleton 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 |
$2,651 13% below ME |
$2,089Lowest 31% below ME |
$2,228 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.8 ME: 48.4% |
34.9%±23.6 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% |
13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
40 minHighest 62% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Orland and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | — | RSU 24 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | Sumner Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.5 |
| 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.