Compare towns

Appleton vs Sheffield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Orland has the most people working from home (17%).

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.

MeasureAppletonSheffieldOrland
People
Population
1,360
573Lowest
1,915Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.2±7.4
26% above U.S.
42±8Lowest
8% 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%
17.1%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.8%±5.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Sheffield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.1%±9.3
U.S.: 17.2%
19.2%±4Lowest
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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
27.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±4.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Sheffield 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.
$58,333±$26k
28% below U.S.
$69,348±$29kHighest
14% below U.S.
Orland and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$235,600±$33k
29% below U.S.
$171,900±$50kLowest
48% below U.S.
$277,100±$20kHighest
17% below U.S.
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
22% below U.S.
$967±$79Lowest
32% below U.S.
$1,149±$177Highest
19% below U.S.
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
15% above U.S.
$2,123
32% below U.S.
$2,089Lowest
33% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
85.4%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
61.5%±41.2
U.S.: 51.1%
45%±23.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Appleton and Sheffield 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%
6.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.7%
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
14% above U.S.
40 minHighest
51% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
6.1%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17%±11.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Orland and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Appleton Public Schools Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
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.