Compare towns
Appleton vs Orland vs Wheelock vs Sullivan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Orland has the most expensive homes ($277k median).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Sullivan has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Wheelock | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,915Highest |
717Lowest |
1,246 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
50.6±4.2 30% above U.S. |
51±5.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
47.1±15Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Wheelock 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Wheelock and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wheelock and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orland and Sullivan 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 34% below U.S. |
$69,348±$29kHighest 14% below U.S. |
$64,792±$20k 20% below U.S. |
$59,643±$14k 26% below U.S. |
| Orland and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$277,100±$20kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$222,000±$33k 33% below U.S. |
| 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 22% below U.S. |
$1,149±$177Highest 19% below U.S. |
— | $883±$114Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| 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 15% above U.S. |
$2,089Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$2,937 6% below U.S. |
$2,228 29% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.9%±23.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 51% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±11.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±16Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wheelock 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 24 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | Sumner Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.