Compare towns
Hermon vs Orono vs Bangor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).
Orono has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Bangor has the most affordable homes ($220k median).
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 | Hermon | Orono | Bangor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,727Lowest |
11,902 |
31,938Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +19.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.9% ME: +2.6% |
-3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±4.7Highest 8% below ME |
21.8±0.3Lowest 51% below ME |
41±1.3 8% below ME |
| Hermon and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
6.8%±1.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±1.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Hermon and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.4%±1.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.9%±1.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Hermon and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6% ME: 36.2% |
66.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
35.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
56.1%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
10.4%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,629±$22kHighest 29% above ME |
$61,528±$5k 18% below ME |
$59,942±$7kLowest 20% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,600±$32kHighest 12% above ME |
$272,600±$40k 8% below ME |
$219,600±$10kLowest 26% below ME |
| Hermon and Orono are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$202Highest 23% above ME |
$1,255±$112 10% above ME |
$1,055±$43Lowest 7% below ME |
| Hermon and Orono are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,761Lowest 9% below ME |
$4,830Highest 59% above ME |
$3,076 about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.2%±19.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
58.1%±10.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
51.5%±6.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Orono and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
24.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
17.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
46.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
47.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2000Highest 23 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 8% below ME |
15 minLowest 38% below ME |
17 min 33% below ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.3%±3.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.1%±2.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Orono and Bangor 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 | #54 of 133 in ME | #26 of 133 in ME | #37 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Hermon Public Schools | RSU 26 | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 |
| High school in town | Hermon High School | Orono High School | Bangor High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
10.7Lowest |
13.3 |
| 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.