What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orono has the shortest commute (15 min average).

Union has the most kids (24.9% 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	Union
People
Population	11,902Highest	2,663Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.9%Highest ME: +2.6%	+5.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	21.8±0.3Lowest 51% below ME	41.6±5.3Highest 7% below ME
Kids under 18	6.8%±1.5Lowest ME: 18.1%	24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	11.4%±1.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	21.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	34.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	56.1%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8%	3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,528±$5kLowest 18% below ME	$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$272,600±$40kHighest 8% below ME	$267,600±$42kLowest 10% below ME
	Orono and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,255±$112Highest 10% above ME	$1,179±$452Lowest 4% above ME
	Orono and Union 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	$3,276Lowest 8% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.1%±10.6Highest ME: 48.4%	24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line	24.9%Highest ME: 10.7%	10.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	46.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest same as ME	1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	15 minLowest 38% below ME	29 minHighest 20% above ME
Work from home	11.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9%
	Union 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	—
School district	RSU 26	RSU 40/MSAD 40
High school in town	Orono High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7	—
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.