Compare towns
Appleton vs Mendon vs Union 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 affordable homes ($236k median).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Union has the most kids (24.9% 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 | Mendon | Union | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,113Lowest |
2,663Highest |
1,915 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
50.6±4.2 30% above U.S. |
| Mendon 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% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mendon 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% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 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. |
$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$69,348±$29k 14% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$277,100±$20k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,149±$177 19% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Union 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. |
$5,342Highest 71% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$2,089Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Appleton 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% 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. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±11.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mendon 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 | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — |
| 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.