Compare towns
Appleton vs Peru vs Orland vs Strong
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%).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k median).
Orland has the most expensive homes ($277k median).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Peru | Orland | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,501 |
1,915Highest |
1,249Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4% ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
48±7.6 7% above ME |
50.6±4.2Highest 13% above ME |
47.5±8.9Lowest 6% above 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% |
20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Strong 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% |
21.7%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2Highest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 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% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31.4% ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Orland and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
$69,348±$29kHighest 7% below ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Orland and Peru 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 |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$277,100±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
$183,900±$29k 38% 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 |
$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
$1,149±$177Highest about the ME average |
$920±$276 19% 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 |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,089 31% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.8 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest 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% ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
40 minHighest 62% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong 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 56 | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.