Compare towns
Appleton vs Milo vs Orland vs Hope
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milo has the most affordable homes ($97k median).
Orland has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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 | Milo | Orland | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
2,165Highest |
1,915 |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
43.9±7Lowest about the ME average |
50.6±4.2Highest 13% above ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
| 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% |
16.8%±4.1 ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Milo 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% |
18.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 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% ME: 36.2% |
21.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31.4% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$56,875±$9k 24% below ME |
$69,348±$29k 7% below ME |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
| Hope 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 |
$97,100±$27kLowest 67% below ME |
$277,100±$20k 7% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$879±$400Lowest 23% below ME |
$1,149±$177 about the ME average |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
| Hope and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 18% above ME |
$1,450Lowest 52% below ME |
$2,089 31% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
48.8%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.8 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Milo 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% |
16.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.1% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
67.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
42 minHighest 70% above ME |
40 min 62% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
3.2%±2.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hope 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 41/MSAD 41 | — | Hope Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Penquis Valley Middle/High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5 |
— | — |
| 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.