Compare towns
Orono vs Ossipee vs Westbrook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orono has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Ossipee has the most homeowners (82%).
Westbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
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 | Ossipee | Westbrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902 |
4,521Lowest |
20,775Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S. |
37.4±1 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 6.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Ossipee and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 56.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,528±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$90,521±$22kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$85,038±$7k 5% above U.S. |
| Ossipee and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,600±$40kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
$383,300±$19kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,255±$112Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,392±$74 about the U.S. average |
| Ossipee and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,830Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
$4,005Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±10.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee and Orono 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% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 46.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
19 min 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.3%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #26 of 133 in ME | #100 of 120 in NH | #115 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 26 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Westbrook Public Schools |
| High school in town | Orono High School | None in town | Westbrook High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.