Compare towns
Orrington vs Dover vs Belgrade
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orrington has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Belgrade has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Orrington | Dover | Belgrade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,853 |
33,364Highest |
3,351Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±3.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
47.3±14.6 22% above U.S. |
| Orrington and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Belgrade and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Belgrade and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,556±$10k 17% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$88,338±$13kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Dover and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,000±$49kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$312,200±$44k 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,167±$135 17% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$857±$108Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$2,859 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.9%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.2%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Belgrade and Dover 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 | #41 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH | #71 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Orrington Public Schools | Dover School District | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.