Compare towns
Orono vs Carmel
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orono has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).
Carmel has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Orono | Carmel |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 11,902Highest |
2,941Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 51% below ME |
46.4±4.5Highest 4% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 6.8%±1.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.6%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±1.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
16.5%±5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Carmel and Orono are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 56.1%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $61,528±$5kLowest 18% below ME |
$82,188±$22kHighest 10% above ME |
| Carmel and Orono are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,600±$40kHighest 8% below ME |
$256,800±$37kLowest 13% below ME |
| Orono and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,255±$112Lowest 10% above ME |
$1,276±$187Highest 12% above ME |
| Carmel and Orono are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,830Highest 59% above ME |
$2,662Lowest 12% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±10.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±38.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Orono and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 24.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 46.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 38% below ME |
25 minHighest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.3%±3.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Orono and Carmel 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 | #77 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 26 | RSU 87/MSAD 23 |
| High school in town | Orono High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
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| 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.