Compare towns
Orland vs Appleton vs Deer Isle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orland has the highest household income ($69k).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Deer Isle has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Orland | Appleton | Deer Isle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,915 |
1,360Lowest |
2,470Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±4.2 13% above ME |
49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
52.6±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
| Deer Isle and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Appleton and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.5%±2Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±3.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| 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+ | 31.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
35.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| 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 | $69,348±$29kHighest 7% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$62,284±$15k 17% below ME |
| Orland and Deer Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,100±$20k 7% below ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$308,300±$42kHighest 4% above ME |
| Deer Isle and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$177 about the ME average |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,909±$927Highest 68% above ME |
| Deer Isle and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,089 31% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,890Lowest 38% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45%±23.8 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
25.4%±17.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 62% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
20 minLowest 17% below ME |
| Work from home | 17%±11.9 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22%±9.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Deer Isle 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 | Deer Isle-Stonington CSD |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Deer Isle-Stonington High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.