Orono, ME

Town in ME, US

By Neilsberg Research

Last updated May 1, 2026

Key Indicators

A quick look at key numbers

Population

11,902

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates

Median Age

21.8

years ∙ half population younger than 21.8, half older

Diversity Index

24.9%

chance two random people differ in race and ethnicity

Nativity

5.4%

foreign-born population

94.6%Native

5.4% Foreign-born

Geographic Context

Location, size, and surroundings

About

Orono is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States.

Location

Town in ME, US

Co-ordinates

DEC44.881680° N, 68.738642° W

DMS44° 52′ 54.05″ N, 68° 44′ 19.11″ W

Population Density & area

654/sq mi (252.7/km²)

Total Area

19.6 sq mi (50.7 km²)

Land Area

18.2 sq mi (47.1 km²) · 92.8%

Water Area

1.4 sq mi (3.6 km²) · 7.2%

Demographics & Living

Who lives here, how households are formed, and community composition

Population Composition

Key characteristics of the population

Sex Distribution

50.4% male

Male 50.4%

Female 49.6%

males per 100 females

Orono 101.5

Maine 97.2

United States 98

Nativity

5.4%

foreign-born population

94.6%Native

5.4% Foreign-born

% Foreign-born

Orono 5.4%

Maine 4.1%

United States 14.1%

Age Distribution

How the population is spread across age groups

Median Age

21.8

years ∙ half population younger than 21.8, half older

Orono

21.8

Maine

44.8

United States

38.9

Dependency ratio

22.3

dependents per 100 working-age adults

Orono 22.3

Maine 67.8

United States 64.4

AGE DISTRIBUTION

Distribution of age group

Median age

	Orono	Maine	United States
Age Group
Children (Under 18)	6.8%	18.1%	22%
Working age (18-64)	81.8%	59.5%	60.8%
Senior (65+)	11.4%	22.4%	17.2%
Dependency ratio
Total dependency ratio	22.3	67.8	64.4
Child dependency ratio	8.4	30.3	36.1
Old-age dependency ratio	14	37.5	28.3

Racial & Ethnic Composition

Racial and ethnic makeup and how it compares

Race & Ethnicity

White

86.4%

Black

1.4%

Asian

3.3%

Hispanic

4.1%

Other

4.8%

Note: White, Black, and Asian refer to individuals belonging to a single race and not of Hispanic origin. Hispanics may be of any race.

Diversity Index

24.9%

chance two random people differ in race and ethnicity

Orono 24.9%

Maine 18.9%

United States 61.4%

Note: The Diversity Index (DI), based on the Blau Index, measures the probability that two randomly selected individuals differ in race and ethnicity. Values range from 0 (no diversity) to 1 (high diversity) and are shown as percentages.

RACIAL & ETHNIC COMPOSITION

Race & Ethnicity

Percentage of Orono population

	Orono	Maine	United States
Hispanic or Latino	4.1%	2.2%	19.3%
Mexican	1.1%	0.7%	11.3%
Puerto Rican	0.3%	0.5%	1.8%
Cuban	0.2%	0.1%	0.8%
Other Hispanic / Latino	2.5%	0.9%	5.5%
Not Hispanic or Latino	95.9%	97.8%	80.7%
One race	91.4%	93.6%	76.4%
White	86.4%	89.9%	57.4%
Black or African American	1.4%	1.8%	11.9%
American Indian and Alaska Native	0.2%	0.3%	0.5%
Asian	3.3%	1.1%	5.9%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander	0%	0%	0.2%
Some Other Race	0.2%	0.4%	0.6%
Two or more races (Multiracial)	4.5%	4.2%	4.3%

Household & Families Composition

Household size, type, and family structure

Household structure

40.4% family

Family 40.4%

Non family 59.6%

% family households

Orono 40.4%

Maine 60.7%

United States 64.2%

Average household size

2.37

persons per household

Orono

2.37

Maine

2.26

United States

2.53

Household & Family COMPOSITION

Households

Percentage of Orono population

	Orono	Maine	United States
Total households	3,308	597,159	129,227,496
Average houshold size	2.37	2.26	2.53
Family households	1,337	362,538	82,990,528
Average family size	2.77	2.81	3.14
Married couple family	1,087	286,766	60,637,388
Other families	250	75,772	22,353,140
Male householder	116	24,355	6,572,819
Female householder	134	51,417	15,780,321
Non-family households	1,971	234,621	46,236,968
One-person households	912	183,618	37,140,836
Male householder	404	79,882	16,871,444
Senior (65+) living alone	105	29,811	5,225,110
Female householder	508	103,736	20,269,392
Senior (65+) living alone	302	56,986	10,089,070
Other living arrangements	1,059	51,003	9,096,132

Housing Profile

Housing stock, ownership, rentals, and cost burdens

Total housing units

3,633

housing units

Orono 3,633

Maine 751,876

United States 143,775,355

Occupancy status

91.1% occupied

Occupied 91.1%

Vacant 8.9%

vacancy rate

Orono 8.9%

Maine 20.6%

United States 10.1%

Housing Characteristics

How the housing supply is structured and used

Types of Housing unit

50.3%

Single family houses

50.3%

Apartments in multi-unit structures

47.9%

Mobile homes

1.8%

Boat, RV, van, etc

Median Year Built

1976

Half of houses were built before 1976, and half after.

Historic ∙ 1939 or earlier

19.1%

Postwar & mid-century ∙ 1940 - 1969

23.7%

Late 20th century ∙ 1970 - 1999

30.8%

Modern ∙ 2000 or later

26.5%

Note: Median year built reflects occupied units only; distribution includes all units.

Housing Characteristics

Units, rooms & bedrooms

Physical characteristics of housing units

	Orono	Maine	United States
Rooms per unit
Median rooms	5.6	5.5	5.5
1–3 rooms	15.3%	14.4%	15.1%
4–6 rooms	53.1%	53.6%	51.6%
7+ rooms	31.5%	32%	33.4%
Bedrooms
No bedroom / studio	2%	2.5%	2.9%
1 bedroom	10.6%	11.7%	10.9%
2 bedrooms	30.4%	29.1%	25%
3 bedrooms	32.3%	38.9%	38.7%
4+ bedrooms	24.7%	17.9%	22.4%
At a glance
Median year built	1976	1977	1981
Total housing units	3,633	751,876	143,775,355

Occupancy Profile

Who is inside and how they use it

Homeownership

46.6% owners

Renter-occupied 53.4%

Owner-occupied 46.6%

homeownership rate

Orono 46.6%

Maine 74.3%

United States 65.2%

Average household size

2.3

Owner-occupied

2.44

Renter-occupied

owner-occupied average size

Orono 2.3

Maine 2.37

United States 2.64

Housing Characteristics

Occupied unit characteristics

Tenure, crowding, and utilities

	Orono	Maine	United States
Total occupied units	3,308	597,159	129,227,496
Year moved in
2020 or later	39%	20.4%	24.8%
2010 to 2019	35.6%	38.5%	39.6%
2000 to 2009	8.2%	17.9%	16.4%
1999 or earlier	17.1%	23.2%	19.1%
Occupants per room
1.00 or fewer	99.2%	98.6%	96.6%
1.01 to 1.50	0.2%	0.8%	2.2%
1.51 or more	0.6%	0.6%	1.2%
Vehicles availability
No vehicles	7.2%	6.8%	8.4%
1 vehicle	33.9%	33.6%	33.1%
2 vehicles	31.1%	39.9%	36.6%
3 or more vehicles	27.8%	19.8%	21.9%
House heating fuel used
Gas	31.4%	22.1%	51.4%
Electricity	26.1%	11.2%	41.3%
Solar	0.2%	0.4%	0.3%
Fuel oil, kerosene etc	34.6%	55.3%	3.9%
All other fuels	7%	10.6%	2%
No fuel used	0.7%	0.4%	1.2%
Selected characteristics
Lacking complete plumbing	0%	0.5%	0.4%
Lacking complete kitchen	0.4%	0.9%	0.8%
No telephone service available	0.5%	0.7%	0.9%

Housing Value

What owner-occupied units are worth

Median home value

$272,600

owner-occupied units

Median value(USD)

Orono

$272,600

Maine

$296,600

United States

$332,700

Housing Cost Burden

14%

of homeowners with a mortgage are cost-burdened

% Cost-Burdened Households

Owners with a mortgage

14%

Owners without a mortgage

11.1%

Renters

58.1%

Note: Households spending 30% or more of their income on housing costs are considered cost-burdened.

Financial characteristics

Property value and housing costs

Tenure, crowding, and utilities

	Orono	Maine	United States
Property value
Median Value	$272,600	$296,600	$332,700
Under $100,000	4.4%	12.3%	11.4%
$100,000 - $200,000	24.6%	17.7%	15.8%
$200,000 - $300,000	26.6%	20.6%	17.8%
$300,000 - $500,000	32.5%	29.5%	26.9%
$500,000 - $1,000,000	10.3%	16.5%	20.9%
$1,000,000 and more	1.7%	3.3%	7.1%
Owner-occupied households
With a mortgage	45%	57.7%	60.6%
Without a mortgage	55%	42.3%	39.4%
Median monthly owner costs
With a mortgage	$1,771	$1,729	$1,963
Without a mortgage	$756	$638	$638
Gross rent
Median rent	$1,255	$1,139	$1,413

Education Profile

How educated is the community and how education pays off

Adults with a college degree

66.8%

of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

Orono 66.8%

Maine 36.2%

United States 35.7%

Adults without a high school diploma

1.2%

of adults (25+) without a high school diploma

Orono 1.2%

Maine 5.2%

United States 10.4%

School Enrollment

Who is enrolled in school and at what level

School enrollment

7,312

population (age 3+) enrolled in school

Nursery / Preschool

0.5%

K–12

8.1%

College / Undergraduate

84.4%

Graduate / Professional

College-going rate (18-24 yr olds)

93.2%

of 18-24-year-olds in college or graduate school

Orono

93.2%

Maine

43.5%

United States

40.9%

Enrollment & school type

Enrollment levels, college-going rate, and public vs private school split

Population 3+ currently enrolled in a school

	Orono	Maine	United States
Total enrolled (age 3+)	7,312	281,216	80,089,790
Nursery / preschool	0.5%	5%	5.7%
K–12	8.1%	66.2%	67.6%
Kindergarten	0.2%	5.1%	5%
Elementary: Grades 1–4	1.6%	19.6%	19.8%
Elementary: Grades 5–8	2.5%	19.8%	21%
High School: Grades 9–12	3.7%	21.8%	21.7%
College or graduate school	91.4%	28.7%	26.7%
College, undergraduate	84.4%	23.1%	21%
Graduate, professional school	7%	5.7%	5.8%
College-going rate · 18-24 yr olds	93.2%	43.5%	40.9%
School type
Public school	74.1%	79.4%	82%
Private school	25.9%	20.6%	18%

Education Attainment by Level & Gender

What is the highest level of education completed among adults

Education attainment

4,439

population 25 years and over

Total adults (25+)

Less than 9th grade

0.1%

9th-12th, no diploma

1.1%

HS graduate

13.8%

Some college no degree

10.8%

Associates degree

7.4%

Bachelors degree

27.7%

Graduate or professional degree

39.1%

Attainment by gender

Male vs Female

Adults (25+) · Share within each education level

% male · % female

Less than 9th grade

0% · 100%

9th-12th, no diploma

64.7% · 35.3%

HS graduate

50.6% · 49.4%

Some college no degree

49.7% · 50.3%

Associates degree

61% · 39%

Bachelors degree

46.3% · 53.7%

Graduate or professional degree

52.7% · 47.3%

Educational Attainment Overview

Distribution and key education attainment rates for adults (25+)

Highest credential completed · adults 25+

	Orono	Maine	United States
Population (25+)	4,439	1,026,250	230,807,303
Less than 9th grade	0.1%	1.7%	4.7%
9th–12th, no diploma	1.1%	3.5%	5.7%
High school diploma or GED	13.8%	30.1%	26%
Some college, no degree	10.8%	18.1%	19.1%
Associate's degree	7.4%	10.4%	8.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher	66.8%	36.2%	35.7%
Bachelor's degree	27.7%	22.5%	21.6%
Graduate or professional	39.1%	13.7%	14.1%
High School or higher	98.8%	94.8%	89.6%

Earnings by education level

percentage as applicable

Median Earnings

$51,330

Median earnings for adults 25+, by level

Less than HS graduate

$—

HS graduate

$33,611

Some college or associates

$41,500

Bachelors degree

$45,625

Graduate or professional degree

$66,949

Poverty Rate

1.5%

for ages 25+, with bachelors degree or higher

Less than HS graduate

57.4%

HS graduate

14.9%

Some college or associates

6.6%

Bachelors degree or higher

1.5%

Outcomes by Education Level

Earnings and poverty rates across education levels (25+)

Adults 25+

	Orono	Maine	United States
Median earnings
Population 25+, with earnings	$51,330	$50,103	$52,696
Less than high school graduate	$—	$35,887	$32,485
High school graduate (includes equivalency)	$33,611	$40,775	$40,153
Some college or associate's degree	$41,500	$46,697	$47,260
Bachelor's degree	$45,625	$59,190	$70,044
Graduate or professional degree	$66,949	$75,851	$90,720
Poverty rates
Less than high school graduate	57.4%	27.2%	24.2%
High school graduate (includes equivalency)	14.9%	13.9%	14.4%
Some college or associate's degree	6.6%	8.8%	9.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher	1.5%	4.5%	4.5%

Insights for Orono, by topic

Income By year By race By age By gender

Population By year By race By age By gender

About Neilsberg Research

Neilsberg Research team are data scientists with expertise in processing, analysis and visualization of big data helping small businesses make right decisions.

Cite this page

Citation style

Url to be used as reference

This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be legal or tax advice. We recommend that you consult with a qualified professional such as a lawyer or accountant before making a decision. Many of the products and services featured here are from our affiliate partners. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. Read advertiser disclosure.