Compare towns
Wells River vs Appleton vs Orleans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k 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 | Wells River | Appleton | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 340Lowest |
1,360Highest |
809 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±12.7 10% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.7±5.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orleans and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $38,688±$5kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$57,159±$10kHighest 29% below U.S. |
| Orleans and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,800±$103k 49% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33kHighest 29% below U.S. |
$156,300±$18kLowest 53% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$336 36% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S. |
$810±$94Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,154Highest 33% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,019Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 38.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.2%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Appleton and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.