Compare towns
Appleton vs Pelham vs Orland
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).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
Orland has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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 | Pelham | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
14,449Highest |
1,915 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
50.6±4.2Highest 30% 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%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham 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. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$69,348±$29k 14% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$277,100±$20k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$177 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$2,089Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45%±23.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Pelham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±11.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham 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 | — | #48 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Pelham School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.