Compare towns
Glenburn vs Union vs Orono
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Glenburn has the highest household income ($97k).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Orono has the shortest commute (15 min average).
Orono is a college town. 56.1% 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 | Glenburn | Union | Orono |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,737 |
2,663Lowest |
11,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+7.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.7±4.4Highest 6% above ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
21.8±0.3Lowest 51% below ME |
| Glenburn and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±6.4 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
6.8%±1.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Glenburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.4%±1.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
66.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
56.1%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,474±$26kHighest 30% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$61,528±$5kLowest 18% below ME |
| Glenburn and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,900±$49kHighest 7% below ME |
$267,600±$42kLowest 10% below ME |
$272,600±$40k 8% below ME |
| Glenburn and Orono are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,143±$226Lowest about the ME average |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$1,255±$112Highest 10% above ME |
| Orono and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,287 8% above ME |
$3,276Lowest 8% above ME |
$4,830Highest 59% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.8%±31Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
58.1%±10.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Glenburn and Orono are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
24.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
46.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 21% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
15 minLowest 38% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.2%±5.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.3%±3.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Union 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 | #39 of 133 in ME | — | #26 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Glenburn Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 26 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Orono High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
| 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.