Compare towns
Orono vs Biddeford vs Orono
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orono has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).
Biddeford has the most kids (15.6% under 18).
Orono has the most renters (58.3% rent).
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.
| Measure | Orono | Biddeford | Orono |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902 |
22,498Highest |
11,151Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3 51% below ME |
35±2.6Highest 22% below ME |
21.6±0.3Lowest 52% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 6.8%±1.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±2.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
6.8%±1.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±1.9 ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±1.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
11%±2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.8% ME: 36.2% |
32.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
69.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 56.1%±3.5 ME: 5.8% |
11%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
59.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Orono and Orono are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,528±$5k 18% below ME |
$72,333±$4kHighest 3% below ME |
$59,784±$5kLowest 20% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,600±$40k 8% below ME |
$396,600±$25kHighest 34% above ME |
$262,900±$39kLowest 11% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,255±$112Lowest 10% above ME |
$1,292±$100Highest 13% above ME |
$1,280±$117 12% 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 | $4,830Highest 59% above ME |
$4,401Lowest 45% above ME |
$4,778 57% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±10.6 ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
60.2%±11.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Orono and Orono are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 24.9% ME: 10.7% |
15.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
27%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 46.6% ME: 74.3% |
48.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
41.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest same as ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 38% below ME |
24 minHighest 4% below ME |
15 minLowest 38% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.3%±3.2 ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±2.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
11%±3.2Lowest 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 | #26 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 26 | Biddeford Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Orono High School | Biddeford High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
14.1Highest |
— |
| 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.