Compare towns
Appleton vs Lyman 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
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Lyman has the most expensive homes ($360k median).
Orland has the oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
Sullivan has the most kids (18% under 18).
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 | Lyman | Orland | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
4,612Highest |
1,915 |
1,246Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.2% ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
-1.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
53.8±2Highest 20% above ME |
50.6±4.2 13% above ME |
47.1±15Lowest 5% above ME |
| Lyman and Orland 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% |
15.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Sullivan 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% |
26.1%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.5%±2.9Lowest 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% |
25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31.4% ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$87,284±$14kHighest 17% above ME |
$69,348±$29k 7% below ME |
$59,643±$14k 20% below ME |
| Lyman 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 |
$360,400±$44kHighest 22% above ME |
$277,100±$20k 7% below ME |
$222,000±$33kLowest 25% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,063±$522 7% below ME |
$1,149±$177Highest about the ME average |
$883±$114Lowest 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 |
$2,717 11% 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% |
37.7%±44.7 ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.8 ME: 48.4% |
34.9%±23.6Lowest 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% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
85.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 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 |
33 min 35% above ME |
40 minHighest 62% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9 ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Lyman and Orland 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 | — | #40 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | — | RSU 24 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Sumner Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 2 photos → | 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.