What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orono has the youngest population (median age 21.8).

Hampden has the most kids (25.8% 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.

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

Measure	Orono	Hampden
People
Population	11,902Highest	7,896Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.9%Highest ME: +2.6%	+6.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	21.8±0.3Lowest 51% below ME	41±2.9Highest 8% below ME
Kids under 18	6.8%±1.5Lowest ME: 18.1%	25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	11.4%±1.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	17.2%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	45.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	56.1%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8%	5.3%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,528±$5kLowest 18% below ME	$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$272,600±$40kLowest 8% below ME	$301,300±$38kHighest about the ME average
	Hampden and Orono 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	$1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME
	Hampden 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	$3,694Lowest 22% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.1%±10.6Highest ME: 48.4%	22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line	24.9%Highest ME: 10.7%	7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	46.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest same as ME	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	15 minLowest 38% below ME	23 minHighest 7% below ME
Work from home	11.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#26 of 133 in ME	#6 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 26	RSU 22
High school in town	Orono High School	Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.