What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orono has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).

Sutton has the most kids (19.6% 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.

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

Measure	Orono	Sutton
People
Population	11,902Highest	9,452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S.	44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S.
Kids under 18	6.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	11.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	52.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	56.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,528±$5kLowest 24% below U.S.	$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$272,600±$40kLowest 18% below U.S.	$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,255±$112Highest 11% below U.S.	$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S.
	Orono and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,830Lowest 55% above U.S.	$6,763Highest 117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.1%±10.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Orono and Sutton 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%	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	46.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	15 minLowest 42% below U.S.	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	11.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#26 of 133 in ME	#105 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 26	Sutton
High school in town	Orono High School	Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	12.6Highest
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.