What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holderness has the youngest population (median age 39.4).

Orrington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).

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	Holderness	Orrington
People
Population	1,917Lowest	3,853Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±7.4Lowest about the U.S. average	49.5±3.3Highest 27% above U.S.
	Orrington and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.7%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Orrington and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	23.8%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Holderness and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Orrington and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,863±$45kHighest 34% above U.S.	$94,556±$10kLowest 17% above U.S.
	Holderness and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$363,100±$60kHighest 9% above U.S.	$309,000±$49kLowest 7% below U.S.
	Holderness and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,068±$385Highest 46% above U.S.	$1,167±$135Lowest 17% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,923Highest 26% above U.S.	$2,823Lowest 9% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.5%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	11.9%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Holderness and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	21 minLowest 19% below U.S.
Work from home	9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	11.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Orrington and Holderness 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
School district	Holderness School District	Orrington Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.