Compare towns
Appleton vs Orland vs Wilder
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 the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Orland has the most people working from home (17%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,915 |
3,087Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
50.6±4.2Highest 30% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| 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%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Appleton and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orland and Wilder 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Orland 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±$29k 14% below U.S. |
$75,143±$9kHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Wilder 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 29% below U.S. |
$277,100±$20kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Orland and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,149±$177Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
| Orland and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$2,089Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$5,505Highest 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 51% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orland and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.

