Compare towns
Appleton vs Sidney vs Hope 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 the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Sidney has the youngest population (median age 43).
Hope has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Sidney | Hope | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
4,790Highest |
1,748 |
1,915 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.4% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
43±5.5Lowest 4% below ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
50.6±4.2Highest 13% 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% |
23.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Sidney 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% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 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% ME: 36.2% |
33.5% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±4.6Highest 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±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$83,488±$10k 12% above ME |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$69,348±$29k 7% below ME |
| Hope and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$336,200±$34k 13% above ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$277,100±$20k 7% below ME |
| Hope and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
$1,219±$182 7% above ME |
$1,149±$177 about the ME average |
| Sidney and Hope 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 |
$2,474 19% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$2,089Lowest 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 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%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
40 minHighest 62% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Hope 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 | — | #15 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 18 | Hope Public Schools | — |
| 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.