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Living in
Orono.
Orono is an unincorporated community in Penobscot County, ME. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Orono
Orono is a community of 10,699 people in Maine. The median household income is $59,784, median rent runs about $1,300 per month, and median home values are around $262,900. Unemployment is low at 3.7%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Orono at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
21.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
27.0%
Foreign-Born
5.7%
Broadband Internet
82.7%
of households
Population Growth
+12.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.7% foreign-born, most often from Canada
Who lives in Orono: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Orono, the largest foreign-born group is from Canada (19.0%), and 3.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
6.8%
of residents
65 and Older
11.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
13.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
27.0%
of households
Married Couples
32.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.43
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 12% above ME average
Rent, home values, and income in Orono
In Orono, rent runs 12% above the ME average, and home values are 11% below the ME average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
57.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
96.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,778
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
41.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1976
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $309,135 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for ME
Unemployment in Orono
Unemployment in Penobscot County, which includes Orono, is close to the ME average.
Unemployment rate
Orono: Penobscot County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Penobscot County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Orono Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute15.2 min avg
How Orono residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Orono, most residents drive alone to work (59%), and 87% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 mi
Bangor International Airport (BGR)
Regional airport · few flights437k passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 95% below national average
Crime rates for 2023
Older dataThe latest complete year reported to the FBI is 2023. It's compared with the national rate for 2023.
Violent crime in Orono runs 95% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
17.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (386 national, 2023)
Property Crime Rate
230.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,951 national, 2023)
Orono Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 41 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
78.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Penobscot County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Penobscot County, which includes Orono, the most common type is winter weather, with 41 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 41 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2024 | 42 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2023 | 42 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2022 | 20 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2021 | 24 | Heat | None reported |
| 2020 | 23 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2019 | 23 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
| 2018 | 18 | Heavy Snow | Not estimated |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Penobscot County, county-wide
Air Quality33 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Penobscot County, which includes Orono, is typically good — 299 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
33
Good Days
299
per year
Moderate Days
50
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Penobscot County, county-wide
Climate77°F summers, 10°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Orono has mild summers (avg high 77°F) and very cold winters (avg low 10°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
52°/30°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
77°/53°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
57°/36°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
30°/10°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
44.4"
Annual Snowfall
74.6"
Hot Days/Year
9
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
164
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
147
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27°F | 6°F | 3.66" |
| Feb | 31°F | 8°F | 2.98" |
| Mar | 39°F | 19°F | 3.78" |
| Apr | 52°F | 30°F | 3.68" |
| May | 65°F | 41°F | 3.47" |
| Jun | 73°F | 50°F | 4.19" |
| Jul | 79°F | 56°F | 3.45" |
| Aug | 78°F | 53°F | 3.15" |
| Sep | 70°F | 46°F | 3.67" |
| Oct | 57°F | 36°F | 4.27" |
| Nov | 44°F | 27°F | 3.99" |
| Dec | 34°F | 16°F | 4.15" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Orono
Uninsured
3.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside Orono's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center
Psychiatric · 6 mi away · Bangor
Northern Light Acadia Hospital
Psychiatric · 6.3 mi away · Bangor
Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.3 mi away · Bangor
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education10.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Orono
Orono's student/teacher ratio is 10.9:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 69.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
69.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Orono
Public · 4-year · 8,496 students · in-state tuition $13,760 · 56% graduate · median earnings $59,140 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,618 students · in-state tuition $24,126 · 59% graduate · median earnings $57,136 (10 yrs after entry)
Eastern Maine Community College
5.3 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 1,840 students · in-state tuition $4,156 · 33% graduate · median earnings $46,579 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 484 students · 44% graduate · median earnings $43,193 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Acadia National Park, 39 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Orono
Orono has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Acadia National Park (39 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Acadia National Park
National Park
39 mi awayKatahdin Woods and Waters National Monument
National Monument
74 mi awayFrances Perkins National Monument
National Monument
75 mi awaySaint Croix Island International Historic Site
International Historic Site
77 mi awayRoosevelt Campobello International Park
International Park
84 mi awayPublic Libraries in Orono
Orono Public Library
39 Pine Street, Orono
Cities Near Orono
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Orono?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Orono FAQ
Is Orono, Maine affordable?⌄
Orono's median rent is $1,280/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $59,784/year. Median home value is $262,900.
Is Orono, Maine safe?⌄
Orono's violent crime rate was 18 per 100,000 residents in 2023, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 386/100k that year. Property crime rate is 230 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Orono, Maine?⌄
Penobscot County, which includes Orono, has an unemployment rate of 3.7%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Orono, Maine?⌄
The cost of living in Orono is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,280/month and median household income is $59,784/year. The median home value is $262,900. About 58% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Orono, Maine?⌄
The average commute in Orono is 15 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from