What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orono has the youngest population (median age 21.8).

Westbrook has the most kids (18.5% 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	Westbrook
People
Population	11,902Lowest	20,775Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+16.6%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	21.8±0.3Lowest 51% below ME	37.4±1Highest 17% below ME
Kids under 18	6.8%±1.5Lowest ME: 18.1%	18.5%±2.4Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	11.4%±1.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	18.1%±2.2Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	41.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	56.1%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8%	9%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,528±$5kLowest 18% below ME	$85,038±$7kHighest 14% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$272,600±$40kLowest 8% below ME	$383,300±$19kHighest 29% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,255±$112Lowest 10% above ME	$1,392±$74Highest 22% above ME
	Westbrook and Orono 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	$4,005Lowest 32% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.1%±10.6Highest ME: 48.4%	46.1%±7.4Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Orono and Westbrook 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%	8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	46.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	61.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest same as ME	1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	15 minLowest 38% below ME	19 minHighest 24% below ME
Work from home	11.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	17.8%±2.8Highest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#26 of 133 in ME	#115 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 26	Westbrook Public Schools
High school in town	Orono High School	Westbrook High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	12.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.