Compare towns
Orono vs Chapman vs Biddeford
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).
Chapman has the most homeowners (94.5%).
Biddeford has the most expensive homes ($397k median).
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 | Chapman | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,151 |
388Lowest |
22,498Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | +6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 21.6±0.3Lowest 52% below ME |
45.7±11.4Highest about the ME average |
35±2.6 22% below ME |
| Chapman 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% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 11%±2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
32.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 59.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
11%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,784±$5kLowest 20% below ME |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
$72,333±$4k 3% below ME |
| Chapman 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 |
$185,700±$22kLowest 37% below ME |
$396,600±$25kHighest 34% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,280±$117Lowest 12% above ME |
— | $1,292±$100Highest 13% above 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 |
$1,850Lowest 39% below ME |
$4,401 45% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.2%±11.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6 ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 27%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
48.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 1 yr older than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 38% below ME |
23 min 6% below ME |
24 minHighest 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 11%±3.2 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±2.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Biddeford and Orono 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 |
| High school in town | — | — | Biddeford High School |
| 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.