Compare towns
Orono vs Windham 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).
Windham has the most homeowners (84.6%).
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 | Windham | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,902Lowest |
19,188 |
22,498Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 51% below ME |
41.8±1.8Highest 7% below ME |
35±2.6 22% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 6.8%±1.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Windham 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% |
15.9%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±1.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Biddeford and Windham 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% |
44.2% ME: 36.2% |
32.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 56.1%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
11%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,528±$5kLowest 18% below ME |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
$72,333±$4k 3% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,600±$40kLowest 8% below ME |
$388,900±$22k 31% above ME |
$396,600±$25kHighest 34% above ME |
| Biddeford and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,255±$112 10% above ME |
$1,232±$332Lowest 8% 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 | $4,830Highest 59% above ME |
$3,938Lowest 30% above ME |
$4,401 45% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±10.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6 ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 24.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 46.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
48.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 38% below ME |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±2.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Windham and Biddeford 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 26 | RSU 14 | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | Orono High School | Windham High School | Biddeford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.1 |
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.