Compare towns
Appleton vs Wheelock 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%).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Orland has the most expensive homes ($277k median).
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 | Wheelock | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
717Lowest |
1,915Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
51±5.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
50.6±4.2 30% above U.S. |
| Wheelock and Orland 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% |
18.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wheelock and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wheelock and Orland 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% |
34.9%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% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest 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. |
$64,792±$20k 20% below U.S. |
$69,348±$29kHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Orland and Wheelock 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. |
$189,600±$37kLowest 43% 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±$82Lowest 22% 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. |
$2,937 6% below U.S. |
$2,089Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±16Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±11.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wheelock and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | — |
| High school 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.