Compare towns
Appleton vs Solon vs Sullivan 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%).
Solon has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Sullivan has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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.
| Measure | Appleton | Solon | Sullivan | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
963Lowest |
1,246 |
1,915Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.4% ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
45.9±5.4Lowest about the ME average |
47.1±15 5% above ME |
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% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
18%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Sullivan and Solon 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% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
22.5%±2.9Lowest 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% |
25%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
31.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4 ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Orland and Sullivan 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 |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
$59,643±$14k 20% below ME |
$69,348±$29kHighest 7% below ME |
| Orland and Solon 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 |
$183,600±$12kLowest 38% below ME |
$222,000±$33k 25% below ME |
$277,100±$20kHighest 7% 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 |
$915±$100 20% below ME |
$883±$114Lowest 22% 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 |
$1,854Lowest 39% below ME |
$2,228 27% below ME |
$2,089 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
34.9%±23.6 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% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.2% ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
40 min 62% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Orland and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | 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 | 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.