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Moving to
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.
What it's like to live in Orono
Orono is an unincorporated community in Maine with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, county unemployment below the national average, and crime rates well below the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Orono deals with household incomes below the national average, a poverty rate above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and cold, harsh winters.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low unemployment in the county
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Clean air
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold, harsh winters
- Heavy snowfall — 75" per year
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Orono compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Orono
Based on Orono's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,560
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $51,200 a year
- 58% of Orono renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$52,580
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $26,290
- Homes cost 4.4× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,280/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,280 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $262,900. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $262,900 · 58% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.7% county unemployment
Unemployment in Penobscot County is 3.7%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Penobscot County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 95% below US
18 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 230/100k · Orono Police Department · 2023 data
Getting around▼ 42% below US
15 min average commute
Commutes run short here, averaging 15.2 minutes. That's an underrated perk of living in a smaller or well-planned city, where time isn't lost sitting in traffic. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 11% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 77°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 10°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 94% above US
70% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
3 public schools inside the boundary
There are 3 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Acadia National Park (39 miles away). There are 5 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Orono's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and a poverty rate above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,280/mo) equals 26% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, people who want short commutes, and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
Other places near Orono
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