Compare towns
Orono vs Glenburn 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 21.8).
Glenburn has the most homeowners (81.7%).
Biddeford has the most expensive homes ($397k median).
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 | Glenburn | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902 |
4,737Lowest |
22,498Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 51% below ME |
47.7±4.4Highest 6% above ME |
35±2.6 22% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 6.8%±1.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.9%±6.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Glenburn and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±1.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
12%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±1.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Biddeford and Glenburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
32.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 56.1%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±3.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
11%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,528±$5kLowest 18% below ME |
$97,474±$26kHighest 30% above ME |
$72,333±$4k 3% below ME |
| Glenburn and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,600±$40kLowest 8% below ME |
$276,900±$49k 7% below ME |
$396,600±$25kHighest 34% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,255±$112 10% above ME |
$1,143±$226Lowest about the ME average |
$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 | $4,830Highest 59% above ME |
$3,287Lowest 8% above ME |
$4,401 45% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±10.6 ME: 48.4% |
72.8%±31Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Glenburn and Orono are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 24.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 46.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
48.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 38% below ME |
30 minHighest 21% above ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.3%±3.2 ME: 15.9% |
10.2%±5.1Lowest 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 | #39 of 133 in ME | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 26 | Glenburn Public Schools | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | Orono High School | None in town | 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.