What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hallowell has the oldest population (median age 50.3).

Orono has the youngest population (median age 21.8).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hallowell	Orono
People
Population	2,592Lowest	11,902Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.9% ME: +2.6%	+7.9% ME: +2.6%
Median age	50.3±7.9Highest 12% above ME	21.8±0.3Lowest 51% below ME
Kids under 18	13.2%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1%	6.8%±1.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Hallowell and Orono are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4%	11.4%±1.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%	66.8%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.4%±6.2Lowest ME: 5.8%	56.1%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,398±$10kHighest 8% below ME	$61,528±$5kLowest 18% below ME
	Hallowell and Orono are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$295,300±$45kHighest about the ME average	$272,600±$40kLowest 8% below ME
	Hallowell and Orono are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$890±$175Lowest 22% below ME	$1,255±$112Highest 10% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,867Lowest 27% above ME	$4,830Highest 59% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.1%±17.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	58.1%±10.6Highest ME: 48.4%
	Orono and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%	24.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.3%Highest ME: 74.3%	46.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME	1977Highest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minLowest 43% below ME	15 minHighest 38% below ME
Work from home	19.8%±8.2Highest ME: 15.9%	11.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Hallowell 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 02	RSU 26
High school 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

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.