Compare towns
Appleton vs Phillips vs Newburgh vs Orland
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%).
Phillips has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Newburgh has the highest household income ($77k).
Orland has the most expensive homes ($277k median).
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 | Phillips | Newburgh | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,094Lowest |
1,475 |
1,915Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.8% ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
49.7±3.7 11% above ME |
45.8±5.7Lowest about the ME average |
50.6±4.2Highest 13% above ME |
| Orland and Phillips 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% |
20.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.8%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Phillips and Newburgh 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% |
21.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2Highest 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% |
20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.9% ME: 36.2% |
31.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Orland and Newburgh 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 |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$76,750±$10kHighest about the ME average |
$69,348±$29k 7% below ME |
| Newburgh 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 |
$190,800±$18kLowest 36% below ME |
$244,600±$20k 18% below ME |
$277,100±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
| Orland and Newburgh 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 |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
$950±$219 17% below ME |
$1,149±$177Highest about the ME average |
| 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 |
$2,582 15% below ME |
$2,748 9% below ME |
$2,089Lowest 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.8 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% |
17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11.7% ME: 10.7% |
7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
81.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
40 minHighest 62% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Orland and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | — | — |
| High school 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.