Compare towns
Orange vs Appleton vs Topsham vs Washington
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Topsham has the most kids (18% under 18).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
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 | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957Lowest |
1,360Highest |
999 |
1,056 |
| 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% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 29% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
50.1±5.9 29% above U.S. |
52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Washington and Orange 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%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Washington 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%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Washington 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% |
31% 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% |
2.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Washington 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. |
$66,103±$8k 18% 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±$22k 33% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33kHighest 29% below U.S. |
$222,900±$56k 33% below U.S. |
$217,700±$37kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$908±$398Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$996±$285 30% below U.S. |
| Orange and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545 14% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,006Highest 28% above U.S. |
$3,485Lowest 12% 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% |
34.5%±63.6 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington and Topsham 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| 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.