What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orono has the most affordable homes ($273k median).

Millis has the most kids (18.4% 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	Millis
People
Population	11,902Highest	8,888Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S.	46.4±3Highest 19% above U.S.
Kids under 18	6.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	11.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	23.5%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	54.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	56.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,528±$5kLowest 24% below U.S.	$155,996±$9kHighest 93% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$272,600±$40kLowest 18% below U.S.	$603,500±$31kHighest 81% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,255±$112Lowest 11% below U.S.	$1,696±$279Highest 20% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,830Lowest 55% above U.S.	$9,344Highest 200% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.1%±10.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	56.5%±16.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Orono and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	24.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	46.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	15 minLowest 42% below U.S.	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.
Work from home	11.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Millis 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	#26 of 133 in ME	#63 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 26	Millis
High school in town	Orono High School	Millis High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7	10.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.