Compare towns
Bradley vs Exeter vs Orono
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bradley has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Orono has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Orono is a college town. 59.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Bradley | Exeter | Orono |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,645 |
1,093Lowest |
11,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±9.7 5% below ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
21.6±0.3Lowest 52% below ME |
| Exeter and Bradley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1 ME: 18.1% |
6.8%±1.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
11%±2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter and Bradley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.7% ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
69.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
59.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,667±$28k about the ME average |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$59,784±$5kLowest 20% below ME |
| Exeter and Bradley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,800±$37k 32% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$262,900±$39kHighest 11% below ME |
| Orono and Bradley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,088±$325 4% below ME |
$995±$386Lowest 13% below ME |
$1,280±$117Highest 12% above ME |
| Orono and Bradley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,946 36% below ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$4,778Highest 57% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±22.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
60.2%±11.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Orono and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
27%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
41.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 7% below ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
15 minLowest 38% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.1%±7.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11%±3.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Bradley and Orono are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #26 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 34 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.