Compare towns

Mapleton vs Newburgh vs Orono

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Newburgh has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Orono has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).
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.

MeasureMapletonNewburghOrono
People
Population
1,884
1,475Lowest
11,902Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+2.8%
ME: +2.6%
+7.9%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
41.8±6
7% below ME
45.8±5.7Highest
about the ME average
21.8±0.3Lowest
51% below ME
Newburgh and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.2%±5.1Highest
ME: 18.1%
18.8%±3.6
ME: 18.1%
6.8%±1.5Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Mapleton and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.3%±3.1
ME: 22.4%
21.4%±2.4Highest
ME: 22.4%
11.4%±1.9Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Newburgh and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.3%
ME: 36.2%
29.9%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
66.8%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.9
ME: 5.8%
4.3%±2.7Lowest
ME: 5.8%
56.1%±3.5Highest
ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,731±$25kHighest
23% above ME
$76,750±$10k
about the ME average
$61,528±$5kLowest
18% below ME
Mapleton and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$191,800±$23kLowest
35% below ME
$244,600±$20k
18% below ME
$272,600±$40kHighest
8% below ME
Orono and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$610±$277Lowest
46% below ME
$950±$219
17% below ME
$1,255±$112Highest
10% above ME
Orono and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,789Lowest
41% below ME
$2,748
9% below ME
$4,830Highest
59% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.7%±10.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
42.9%±13.9
ME: 48.4%
58.1%±10.6Highest
ME: 48.4%
Orono and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
11.7%
ME: 10.7%
24.9%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%
ME: 74.3%
81.2%Highest
ME: 74.3%
46.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
same as ME
1985Highest
8 yrs newer than ME
1977Lowest
same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
13% above ME
30 minHighest
23% above ME
15 minLowest
38% below ME
Work from home
10.8%±3.8
ME: 15.9%
6.4%±3.3Lowest
ME: 15.9%
11.3%±3.2Highest
ME: 15.9%
Orono and Mapleton 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 79/MSAD 01 — 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 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.