Compare towns
Appleton vs Limerick vs Bowdoin vs Orland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Limerick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Bowdoin has the most expensive homes ($293k median).
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 | Limerick | Bowdoin | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
3,400Highest |
3,188 |
1,915 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5% ME: +2.6% |
-0.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
40.4±9.2Lowest 10% below ME |
44.3±10 about the ME average |
50.6±4.2Highest 13% 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% |
18.7%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Bowdoin and Limerick 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% |
17.1%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2Highest 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.4% ME: 36.2% |
31.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2 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 |
$101,172±$15kHighest 35% above ME |
$91,239±$13k 22% above ME |
$69,348±$29k 7% below ME |
| Limerick and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$269,400±$29k 9% below ME |
$292,800±$71kHighest about the ME average |
$277,100±$20k 7% below ME |
| Bowdoin and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,758±$407Highest 54% above ME |
— | $1,149±$177 about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,520 17% below ME |
$3,375 11% above ME |
$2,089Lowest 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.8 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% |
6.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
38 min 53% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
40 minHighest 62% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.2%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7 ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Orland and Limerick 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 | — | — | #28 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.