Compare towns
Orono vs Union vs Eddington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orono has the shortest commute (15 min average).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Eddington has the oldest population (median age 54.9).
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.
| Measure | Orono | Union | Eddington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,151Highest |
2,663 |
2,223Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
-1.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 21.6±0.3Lowest 52% below ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
54.9±4.1Highest 23% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 6.8%±1.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 11%±2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
26.5%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Eddington and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
30.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 59.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,784±$5kLowest 20% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$75,350±$18k about the ME average |
| Union and Eddington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,900±$39kLowest 11% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
$268,000±$45kHighest 10% below ME |
| Eddington and Union 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 |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$1,127±$49Lowest about the ME average |
| Orono and Union 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 |
$3,276 8% above ME |
$2,758Lowest 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.2%±11.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
29.2%±45.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Orono and Eddington 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% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
6.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 38% below ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 11%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±9.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Eddington 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 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 63/MSAD 63 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.