What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).

Orrington has the most affordable homes ($309k median).

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	Newington	Orrington
People
Population	939Lowest	3,853Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.7±10.1Lowest 25% above U.S.	49.5±3.3Highest 27% above U.S.
	Orrington and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Orrington and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2%	23.8%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Newington and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Orrington and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S.	$94,556±$10kLowest 17% above U.S.
	Newington and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S.	$309,000±$49kLowest 7% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S.	$1,167±$135Lowest 17% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,081Highest 95% above U.S.	$2,823Lowest 9% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1%	11.9%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Newington and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 12% below U.S.	21 minLowest 19% below U.S.
Work from home	8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	11.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Orrington and Newington 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	Newington School District	Orrington Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.