What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Washburn has the most kids (21.7% 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	Washburn
People
Population	11,902Highest	1,355Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.9%Highest ME: +2.6%	-9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	21.8±0.3Lowest 51% below ME	48.2±7.7Highest 8% above ME
Kids under 18	6.8%±1.5Lowest ME: 18.1%	21.7%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	11.4%±1.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	24%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	26%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	56.1%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,528±$5kHighest 18% below ME	$56,196±$6kLowest 25% below ME
	Orono and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$272,600±$40kHighest 8% below ME	$112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,255±$112Highest 10% above ME	$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,830Highest 59% above ME	$1,571Lowest 48% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.1%±10.6Highest ME: 48.4%	33.3%±24.7Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Orono and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	24.9%Highest ME: 10.7%	12.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	46.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	78.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest same as ME	1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	15 minLowest 38% below ME	21 minHighest 15% below ME
Work from home	11.3%±3.2Highest ME: 15.9%	9.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Orono and Washburn 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 45/MSAD 45
High school in town	Orono High School	Washburn District High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	12.0Highest
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.