Compare towns
Appleton vs Union vs White River Junction 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 the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | Union | White River Junction | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
2,663 |
3,364Highest |
1,915 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below 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% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and White River Junction 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% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 34% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9kHighest about the U.S. average |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$69,348±$29k 14% below U.S. |
| Union and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$278,800±$78kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$277,100±$20k 17% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,149±$177 19% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$5,651Highest 81% above U.S. |
$2,089Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
45%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orland and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.