Compare towns
Appleton vs Mapleton vs Wells 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Wells has the most homeowners (93.4%).
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 | Mapleton | Wells | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,884 |
1,148Lowest |
1,915Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2Highest 30% above U.S. |
50.6±4.2 30% above U.S. |
| Wells 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orland and Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
$69,348±$29k 14% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Wells 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
$277,100±$20kHighest 17% below U.S. |
| Orland and Wells 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. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,149±$177 19% below U.S. |
| Wells and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,308 6% above U.S. |
$2,089 33% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
45%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Wells 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
40 min 51% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orland and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | — |
| High school in town | None 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.