Compare towns
Castle Hill vs Orono
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castle Hill has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Orono has the most expensive homes ($263k median).
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 | Castle Hill | Orono |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 281Lowest |
11,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 57.8±15.8Highest 29% above ME |
21.6±0.3Lowest 52% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
6.8%±1.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Castle Hill and Orono are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 44.8%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
11%±2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
69.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±5.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
59.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $54,250±$14kLowest 27% below ME |
$59,784±$5kHighest 20% below ME |
| Orono and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $145,300±$18kLowest 51% below ME |
$262,900±$39kHighest 11% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $950±$574Lowest 17% below ME |
$1,280±$117Highest 12% above ME |
| Orono and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,449Lowest 52% below ME |
$4,778Highest 57% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
60.2%±11.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Castle Hill and Orono are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
27%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
41.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minHighest 24% below ME |
15 minLowest 38% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±9.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11%±3.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Orono and Castle Hill 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 |
| 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.