What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orono has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).

Hiram has the most kids (20.9% under 18).

Orono is a college town. 59.8% 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	Orono	Hiram
People
Population	11,151Highest	1,748Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5%Highest ME: +2.6%	-0.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	21.6±0.3Lowest 52% below ME	41.6±10.2Highest 7% below ME
Kids under 18	6.8%±1.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	20.9%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	11%±2Lowest ME: 22.4%	15.7%±2.4Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	69.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	25%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	59.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8%	2.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,784±$5kLowest 20% below ME	$62,813±$10kHighest 16% below ME
	Hiram and Orono are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$262,900±$39kHighest 11% below ME	$256,600±$42kLowest 13% below ME
	Orono and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,280±$117Highest 12% above ME	$1,070±$161Lowest 6% below ME
	Orono and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,778Highest 57% above ME	$2,106Lowest 31% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.2%±11.1Highest ME: 48.4%	56.4%±24.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Orono and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	27%Highest ME: 10.7%	12.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	41.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%	83.8%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976 1 yr older than ME	1976 1 yr older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	15 minLowest 38% below ME	31 minHighest 28% above ME
Work from home	11%±3.2Highest ME: 15.9%	8.6%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Orono and Hiram 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 55/MSAD 55
High school in town	—	Sacopee Valley High Sch
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.9
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.