Compare towns

Appleton vs Orland vs Steuben

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%).
Orland has the most people working from home (17%).
Steuben has the most kids (20.4% 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.

MeasureAppletonOrlandSteuben
People
Population
1,360Lowest
1,915Highest
1,388
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.2%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-0.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
-0.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
49.2±7.4
10% above ME
50.6±4.2Highest
13% above ME
40.1±8.5Lowest
10% below ME
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%
20.4%±5.4Highest
ME: 18.1%
Steuben 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%
15.9%±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%Highest
ME: 36.2%
31.4%
ME: 36.2%
18.9%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±2.4Lowest
ME: 5.8%
5.8%±4.6Highest
ME: 5.8%
5.2%±1.4
ME: 5.8%
Orland and Steuben 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
$76,466±$4kHighest
about the ME average
Steuben 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
$277,100±$20kHighest
7% below ME
$173,900±$32kLowest
41% below ME
Orland and Appleton 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
$1,149±$177Highest
about the ME average
$678±$319Lowest
40% below ME
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
$2,089
31% below ME
$2,029Lowest
33% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
85.4%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
45%±23.8
ME: 48.4%
26.3%±87.8Lowest
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%Highest
ME: 10.7%
7.1%
ME: 10.7%
5.4%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
87.5%
ME: 74.3%
89.4%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
1978Lowest
1 yr newer than ME
1979
2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
23% above ME
40 minHighest
62% above ME
28 minLowest
14% above ME
Work from home
11.1%±3.5Lowest
ME: 15.9%
17%±11.9Highest
ME: 15.9%
11.8%±6.5
ME: 15.9%
Orland and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Appleton Public Schools — RSU 24
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.