What stands out worked out from the figures below

Old Town has the most kids (21.8% under 18).

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.

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

Measure	Old Town	Orono
People
Population	7,470Lowest	11,902Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+7.9%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	37±1.5Highest 17% below ME	21.8±0.3Lowest 51% below ME
Kids under 18	21.8%±4.1Highest ME: 18.1%	6.8%±1.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	16.9%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4%	11.4%±1.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	66.8%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.2%±6.6Lowest ME: 5.8%	56.1%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$51,585±$10kLowest 31% below ME	$61,528±$5kHighest 18% below ME
	Orono and Old Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$208,100±$26kLowest 30% below ME	$272,600±$40kHighest 8% below ME
	Orono and Old Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$989±$100Lowest 13% below ME	$1,255±$112Highest 10% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,153Lowest 4% above ME	$4,830Highest 59% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.3%±15Lowest ME: 48.4%	58.1%±10.6Highest ME: 48.4%
	Orono and Old Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	21.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%	24.9%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.3%Highest ME: 74.3%	46.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 14 yrs older than ME	1977Highest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minHighest 18% below ME	15 minLowest 38% below ME
Work from home	21.4%±11.3Highest ME: 15.9%	11.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Old Town 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	#56 of 133 in ME	#26 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 34	RSU 26
High school in town	Old Town High School	Orono High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.