Compare towns
Orange vs Appleton vs Topsham vs Orwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Topsham has the most people working from home (14.2%).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k 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 | Orange | Appleton | Topsham | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957Lowest |
1,360Highest |
999 |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
50.1±5.9 29% above U.S. |
47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Orange and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13k 12% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$72,308±$60kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$70,417±$22k 13% below U.S. |
| Topsham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$222,900±$56k 33% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$908±$398Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,006Highest 28% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Appleton Public Schools | Waits River Union High District #36 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.