Compare towns
Appleton vs Orient vs Danforth 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 the youngest population (median age 49.2).
Orient has the most people working from home (81%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Orland has the oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
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 | Orient | Danforth | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
137Lowest |
452 |
1,915Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | — | -0.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
62±9Highest 38% above ME |
51.9±5.3 16% above ME |
50.6±4.2 13% above ME |
| Orient and Danforth 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%±18.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Orient 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% |
46%±10.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
0%±11.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±4.6Highest 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±$19k 28% below ME |
— | $42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$69,348±$29kHighest 7% below ME |
| Orland and Appleton 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 |
$548,600±$183kHighest 85% above ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$277,100±$20k 7% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
— | $629±$22Lowest 45% 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 |
— | — | $2,089Lowest 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Orient and Appleton 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% |
35.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
93.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
— | 27 minLowest 9% above ME |
40 minHighest 62% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
81%±44Highest ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| 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.