Compare towns
Orono vs Mapleton 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).
Mapleton has the most homeowners (79.9%).
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 | Mapleton | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902 |
1,884Lowest |
22,498Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 51% below ME |
41.8±6Highest 7% below ME |
35±2.6 22% below ME |
| Mapleton and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 6.8%±1.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Mapleton and Biddeford 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
32.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 56.1%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
11%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,528±$5kLowest 18% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$72,333±$4k 3% below ME |
| Mapleton 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±$40k 8% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$396,600±$25kHighest 34% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,255±$112 10% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below 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 | $4,830Highest 59% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$4,401 45% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±10.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6 ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 24.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 46.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
48.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest same as ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 38% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.3%±3.2 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest 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 | RSU 26 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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.