Census-designated place · Maine
Orono CDP, Maine
Orono CDP, census-designated place, in Penobscot County, Maine. Orono CDP had 11,151 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±244). GEOID 2355575.
Residents, 2020-2024
11,151
±244 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 10,185
Median household income
$59,784
±$4,576 (90% margin)
Maine: $74,733
Median home value
$262,900
±$38,732 (90% margin)
Maine: $296,600
Median gross rent
$1,280
±$117 (90% margin)
Maine: $1,139
Where is Orono CDP and what county is it in?
Orono CDP is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Penobscot County, Maine. It covers 7.1 square miles of land, 1,444 residents per square mile in 2020.
Orono CDP is in the Bangor, ME metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Orono CDP lies entirely within Orono, a town with its own local government (2020 census blocks).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Orono CDP, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Orono CDP's population at 11,151 (±244). The 2020 Census counted 10,185 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Orono CDP is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Orono CDP | Penobscot County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 11,151 ±244 | 154,710 | +1,610 |
| Households | 2,930 ±182 | 65,221 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.43 ±0.15 | 2.26 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 3,162 ±199 | 75,683 | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Orono CDP?
The median resident of Orono CDP is 21.6 years old; 6.8% are under 18 and 11.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 86.4%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 4.4%. 5.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Orono CDP | Penobscot County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 21.6 ±0.3 | 42.5 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 6.8% ±1.7 pts | 17.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 11.0% ±1.6 pts | 20.1% | – |
| Male | 50.0% ±3.3 pts | 49.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4.4% ±1.1 pts | 2.1% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 86.4% ±2.3 pts | 91.1% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.4% ±0.8 pts | 1.1% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 3.5% ±1.2 pts | 1.1% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.9% ±1.3 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 5.7% ±1.9 pts | 3.4% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 10.8% ±2.4 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 2.5% ±0.9 pts | 7.7% | – |
| With a disability | 11.2% ±2.2 pts | 18.2% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.5% ±1.3 pts | 6.3% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 98.9% ±1.1 pts | 94.8% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 69.8% ±4.9 pts | 30.1% | +8.2 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 41.0% ±6.1 pts | 11.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 67.0% ±3.7 pts | 87.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 9.7% ±2.1 pts | 2.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Orono CDP earn?
Half of Orono CDP's 2,930 households earn less than $59,784 a year (±$4,576), against $66,356 in Penobscot County and $74,733 in Maine. In 2015-2019 the median was $48,844 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $10,940 after inflation. 27.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Orono CDP | Penobscot County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $59,784 ±$4,576 | $66,356 | +$10,940 |
| Mean household income | $85,752 ±$8,505 | $88,290 | – |
| Per capita income | $25,481 ±$2,413 | $37,915 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 27.0% ±4.1 pts | 14.1% | −11.0 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 14.0% ±12.2 pts | 15.6% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 4.8% ±2.1 pts | 15.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.0% ±2.3 pts | 94.7% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 82.7% ±4.4 pts | 88.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Orono CDP?
Owners occupy 41.7% of Orono CDP's occupied homes and renters 58.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $262,900 by its owner (±$38,732). The median renter pays $1,280 a month including utilities, and 47.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Orono CDP | Penobscot County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $262,900 ±$38,732 | $214,100 | +$50,236 |
| Median gross rent | $1,280 ±$117 | $1,041 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 47.2% ±8.6 pts | 40.3% | −14.6 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,680 ±$219 | $1,562 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 41.7% ±4.9 pts | 70.5% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 58.3% ±4.9 pts | 29.5% | – |
| Housing units | 3,162 ±199 | 75,683 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±2.2 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.0% ±6.1 pts | 5.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 40.6% ±4.1 pts | 64.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 11.1% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 10.3% ±3.9 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 20.1% ±4.8 pts | 21.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.1% ±2.8 pts | 8.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Orono CDP work and get to work?
58.5% of Orono CDP's workers drive alone and 11.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 15.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.6%.
| Measure | Orono CDP | Penobscot County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 58.7% ±3.8 pts | 59.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.6% ±2.4 pts | 3.6% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 58.5% ±5.6 pts | 75.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.3% ±3.7 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.6% ±0.6 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 18.9% ±3.7 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Worked from home | 11.0% ±3.1 pts | 11.3% | +5.6 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 15.2 min ±1.6 | 22.7 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Orono CDP?
3 census tracts lie mostly in Orono CDP (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $48,575 (Tract 63) to $107,407 (Tract 62).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Orono CDP) · Census block assignment files
How does Orono CDP compare with other places in Maine?
Orono CDP ranks 257th of 349 places in Maine with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 22nd | 353 |
| Residents per square mile | 5th | 353 |
| Median household income | 257th | 349 |
| Per capita income | 347th | 353 |
| Median home value | 175th | 352 |
| Median gross rent | 73rd | 301 |
| Poverty rate | 5th | 277 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9th | 352 |
| Median age | 351st | 353 |
| Owner-occupied share | 349th | 353 |
| Work from home | 204th | 275 |
| Travel time to work | 327th | 352 |
Orono CDP's figures with every place in Maine (CSV)
Every place in Maine, sortable · Compare Orono CDP with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Orono CDP?
9 of the 57 figures for Orono CDP on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Orono CDP are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.