Compare towns
Orono vs Biddeford vs Bradley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orono has the youngest population (median age 21.6).
Biddeford has the most expensive homes ($397k median).
Bradley has the most homeowners (84.6%).
Orono is a college town. 59.8% 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 | Biddeford | Bradley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,151 |
22,498Highest |
1,645Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6% ME: +2.6% |
+2.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 21.6±0.3Lowest 52% below ME |
35±2.6 22% below ME |
42.6±9.7Highest 5% below ME |
| Bradley and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 6.8%±1.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
21.9%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Bradley and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11%±2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
19.5%±2.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bradley and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.1% ME: 36.2% |
22.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 59.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
11%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,784±$5kLowest 20% below ME |
$72,333±$4k 3% below ME |
$76,667±$28kHighest about the ME average |
| Bradley and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,900±$39k 11% below ME |
$396,600±$25kHighest 34% above ME |
$201,800±$37kLowest 32% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,280±$117 12% above ME |
$1,292±$100Highest 13% above ME |
$1,088±$325Lowest 4% below ME |
| Biddeford and Orono are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,778Highest 57% above ME |
$4,401 45% above ME |
$1,946Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.2%±11.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6 ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±22.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 27%Highest ME: 10.7% |
15.5% ME: 10.7% |
4.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
48.1% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 1 yr older than ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 38% below ME |
24 minHighest 4% below ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 11%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±2.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Biddeford and Bradley 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 | #111 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Biddeford Public Schools | RSU 34 |
| High school in town | — | Biddeford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.