Compare towns
Orono vs Biddeford vs Westbrook
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).
Westbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
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 | Westbrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,151Lowest |
22,498Highest |
20,775 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% ME: +2.6% |
+6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+16.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 21.6±0.3Lowest 52% below ME |
35±2.6 22% below ME |
37.4±1Highest 17% below ME |
| Westbrook 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% |
18.5%±2.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Westbrook 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% |
18.1%±2.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Westbrook 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 59.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
11%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
9%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,784±$5kLowest 20% below ME |
$72,333±$4k 3% below ME |
$85,038±$7kHighest 14% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,900±$39kLowest 11% below ME |
$396,600±$25kHighest 34% above ME |
$383,300±$19k 29% above ME |
| Biddeford and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,280±$117Lowest 12% above ME |
$1,292±$100 13% above ME |
$1,392±$74Highest 22% above ME |
| Westbrook and Biddeford 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 |
$4,005Lowest 32% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.2%±11.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
46.1%±7.4 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 | 27%Highest ME: 10.7% |
15.5% ME: 10.7% |
8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
48.1% ME: 74.3% |
61.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 1 yr older than ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
1975 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 38% below ME |
24 minHighest 4% below ME |
19 min 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 11%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±2.7 ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±2.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Westbrook and Biddeford 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 | #115 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Biddeford Public Schools | Westbrook Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | Biddeford High School | Westbrook High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.1Highest |
12.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.