Compare towns
Casco vs Orrington vs Bethel
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Casco has the oldest population (median age 52).
Orrington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).
Bethel has the most renters (17.1% rent).
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 | Casco | Orrington | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,696 |
3,853Highest |
2,617Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% ME: +2.6% |
+2.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52±3.3Highest 16% above ME |
49.5±3.3Lowest 10% above ME |
50.2±6.4 12% above ME |
| Casco and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.3%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Orrington and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.3%±7.8 ME: 22.4% |
23.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.3%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bethel and Casco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,313±$19k 7% below ME |
$94,556±$10kHighest 27% above ME |
$58,929±$23kLowest 21% below ME |
| Orrington and Casco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,500±$58kHighest 20% above ME |
$309,000±$49kLowest 4% above ME |
$344,900±$37k 16% above ME |
| Casco and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$184Highest 22% above ME |
$1,167±$135 about the ME average |
$864±$43Lowest 24% below ME |
| Casco and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,085Highest about the ME average |
$2,823Lowest 7% below ME |
$2,835 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.7%±35.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.9%±20.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
21.3%±15.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Casco and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11% ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.5% ME: 74.3% |
82.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1986Lowest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
26 min 5% above ME |
| Work from home | 26.6%±10 ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
27.7%±8.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Bethel and Casco 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 | — | #41 of 133 in ME | #49 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 61/MSAD 61 | Orrington Public Schools | RSU 44/MSAD 44 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Telstar High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.