Compare towns
Appleton vs Jay vs Ira 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 renters (17.4% rent).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Ira has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Orland has the most expensive homes ($277k median).
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 | Jay | Ira | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
471 |
381Lowest |
1,915Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
50.6±4.2 30% above U.S. |
| Ira and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Appleton and Orland 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Orland 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% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 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. |
$74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
$69,348±$29k 14% below U.S. |
| Jay and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$277,100±$20kHighest 17% below U.S. |
| Orland and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
— | $942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,149±$177Highest 19% below U.S. |
| 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 15% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,146Highest 33% above U.S. |
$2,089Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
40 min 50% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±11.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | — |
| High school 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.