What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orland has the most expensive homes ($277k median).

Wade has the most affordable homes ($157k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Orland	Wade
People
Population	1,915Highest	244Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.2% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	50.6±4.2Lowest 13% above ME	53.6±18.5Highest 20% above ME
	Wade and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1%	16.4%±6.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Wade and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.5%±2Lowest ME: 22.4%	34.8%±10.8Highest ME: 22.4%
	Wade and Orland 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%	33.2%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8%	0.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Orland and Wade 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	$41,818±$25kLowest 44% below ME
	Orland and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$277,100±$20kHighest 7% below ME	$157,100±$109kLowest 47% below ME
	Orland and Wade 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	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,089Highest 31% below ME	$1,655Lowest 45% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45%±23.8Highest ME: 48.4%	0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Orland and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.1%Highest ME: 10.7%	4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	78.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 1 yr newer than ME	1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 62% above ME	34 minLowest 37% above ME
Work from home	17%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9%	10.1%±6.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Orland and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.