Compare towns
Appleton vs Windsor vs Strong 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%).
Windsor has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Orland has the highest household income ($69k).
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 | Windsor | Strong | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
3,554Highest |
1,249Lowest |
1,915 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
44.8±6.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9 22% 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% |
19.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor 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% |
39.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6 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±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$52,484±$11k 35% below U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$69,348±$29kHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Orland and Appleton 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. |
$207,500±$31k 38% below U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% 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. |
$1,026±$89 27% below U.S. |
$920±$276Lowest 35% 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 | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$5,209Highest 67% above U.S. |
$1,950Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$2,089 33% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest 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% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±11.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strong 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 | — | #61 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.