Compare towns
Appleton vs Saco vs Orland vs Sullivan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saco has the most expensive homes ($413k median).
Orland has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Sullivan has the most kids (18% under 18).
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 | Saco | Orland | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
20,819Highest |
1,915 |
1,246Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
-1.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
44.9±1.5Lowest about the ME average |
50.6±4.2Highest 13% above ME |
47.1±15 5% 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% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Sullivan and Saco 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% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.5%±2.9 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% ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.4% ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4 ME: 5.8% |
| Orland and Saco 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 28% below ME |
$92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME |
$69,348±$29k 7% below ME |
$59,643±$14k 20% below ME |
| Saco 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 |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$277,100±$20k 7% below ME |
$222,000±$33kLowest 25% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME |
$1,149±$177 about the ME average |
$883±$114Lowest 22% below ME |
| Saco and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 18% above ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$2,089Lowest 31% below ME |
$2,228 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.8 ME: 48.4% |
34.9%±23.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Saco 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% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.1% ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
24 minLowest 3% below ME |
40 minHighest 62% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9 ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Saco 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 | — | #38 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Saco Public Schools | — | RSU 24 |
| High school in town | None 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 | 6 photos → | 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.