Compare towns
Appleton vs Millinocket vs Newburgh 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Millinocket has the most affordable homes ($100k median).
Newburgh has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
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 | Millinocket | Newburgh | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
3,779Highest |
1,475 |
1,915 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.8% ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
57.5±7.3Highest 28% above ME |
45.8±5.7Lowest about the ME average |
50.6±4.2 13% above ME |
| Millinocket 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% |
12.1%±6.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Newburgh 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% |
39.4%±8.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
19.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.9% ME: 36.2% |
31.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Orland and Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$50,445±$11kLowest 32% below ME |
$76,750±$10kHighest about the ME average |
$69,348±$29k 7% below ME |
| Newburgh 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 |
$99,800±$24kLowest 66% below ME |
$244,600±$20k 18% below ME |
$277,100±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
| Orland and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$451±$130Lowest 60% below ME |
$950±$219 17% below ME |
$1,149±$177Highest about the ME average |
| 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 |
$1,538Lowest 49% below ME |
$2,748 9% below ME |
$2,089 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.5%±11Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±13.9 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% |
18.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11.7% ME: 10.7% |
7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
83.5% ME: 74.3% |
81.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1956Lowest 21 yrs older than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
40 minHighest 62% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
1.7%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±3.3 ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Orland and Appleton 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 | — | #98 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | — | — |
| High school 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.