Compare towns
Orono vs Sutton vs Upton vs Old Town
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).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Old Town has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
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 | Sutton | Upton | Old Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,902Highest |
9,452 |
8,189 |
7,470Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
37±1.5 5% below U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 6.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Old Town 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% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Sutton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 56.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.2%±6.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $61,528±$5k 24% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$51,585±$10kLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,600±$40k 18% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$208,100±$26kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,255±$112Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$989±$100 30% 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 | $4,830 55% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,153Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±10.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±15 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orono and Upton 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 46.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±11.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #56 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 26 | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | RSU 34 |
| High school in town | Orono High School | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | Old Town High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.6 |
11.2 |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.