Orono, ME: Local News, Events & Neighbors

Orono ( ORR-ə-noh) is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. Located on the Penobscot and Stillwater rivers, it was first settled by American colonists in 1774. They named it in honor of Chief Joseph Orono, a sachem of the indigenous Penobscot nation who long occupied this territory. In the 19th century, the town became a center of the lumber industry. Sawmills on the rivers were powered by the water, and logs were floated downriver on the Penobscot for shipping and export from coastal ports. Orono was home to a large pulp and paper mill. A defunct railroad spur extending from downtown to the Stillwater Community of Old Town is now the Stillwater River Trail. There has been a bri…

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From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Orono ranks

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#5Most educated in ME #5Safest in ME #11Shortest commute in ME All ME rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code04469, 04473

Area code207

Living in Orono

Housing in Orono

$314K▲ 1.7% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Orono home is worth about $314,000, up 1.7% in a year, 24% below the Maine typical home.

Only 4 sales in May 2026, too few for a market read. The typical value is the steadier guide.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Orono

A⁺

Safety Grade A+

Orono reports less crime per resident than 98% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.

Violent crime per 1,000

Orono 0.2

Maine 1

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Orono 0.8

Maine 9.6

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Schools in Orono

All Orono schools →

A⁻

School Grade A-

The public schools Orono’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 77% of Maine’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

#26Best public schoolsof 133 in ME

DistrictRSU 26Schools3

Asa C Adams School BElementary · Grades PK–5 · 336 students Orono Middle School A-Middle · Grades 6–8 · 154 students Orono High School A-High · Grades 9–12 · 337 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within ME. Ratings are from neighbors.