Compare towns
Appleton vs Orland vs Saco
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 most affordable homes ($236k median).
Orland has the most homeowners (87.5%).
Saco has the most expensive homes ($413k median).
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 | Orland | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,915 |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-0.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
50.6±4.2Highest 13% above ME |
44.9±1.5Lowest 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% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Saco 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% |
27.5%±2Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest 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% |
31.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Orland and Saco 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 |
$69,348±$29k 7% below ME |
$92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME |
| Saco 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±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$277,100±$20k 7% below ME |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,149±$177 about the ME average |
$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME |
| Saco 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 |
$2,089Lowest 31% below ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.1% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
87.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
40 minHighest 62% above ME |
24 minLowest 3% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Saco and Orland 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 | — | — | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.