Compare towns
Orono vs Ossipee vs Biddeford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orono has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Ossipee has the most homeowners (82%).
Biddeford has the most people working from home (14.2%).
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 | Ossipee | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902 |
4,521Lowest |
22,498Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S. |
35±2.6 10% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 6.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Ossipee 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 56.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,528±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$90,521±$22kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$72,333±$4k 10% below U.S. |
| Ossipee 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 18% below U.S. |
$325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
$396,600±$25kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,255±$112Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
| Ossipee and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,830Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±10.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 46.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.3%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 26 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | 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 |
U.S. 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.