How much does it cost to rent in Orono, ME?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Orono, ME is $1,625. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Orono cheaper than other Maine cities?

Orono is among the more affordable cities in Maine, ranking #19 out of 25 cities at $1,625/mo.

When was Orono rent data last updated?

Orono rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · ME

Orono

Name: Average Rent Prices in Orono, ME
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 11,151·19th most expensive in Maine·Rents have been falling, good time to negotiate

Median rent (all units)

$1,625/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

-13.0%

vs US Median

-$340

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Orono · $1,625

More affordable than 68% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Affordability

33% of income

MODERATE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,625/mo, rent takes about 33% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$65,000/yr

Local median income

$59,784/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Orono's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,120

1 BR

$1,210

2 BR

$1,540

3 BR

$1,970

4 BR+

$2,040

Research median

$1,540/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$19,500/yr

At $1,625/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are down 0.0% year-over-year. Push hard on price, concessions, and lease terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, -13.0% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Orono, ME is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 69.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

11,151

Median income

$59,784

Median age

21.6

Renters

58.3%

Age distribution

69.2%

Under 186.8%

18–3469.2%

35–547.8%

55–645.2%

65+11%

Gender

50%

Male50%

Female50%

Race & ethnicity

87.5%

White87.5%

Black1.7%

Hispanic4.4%

Asian3.5%

Other2.9%

Education (25+)

13.1%

16%

69.8%

No HS diploma1.1%

HS diploma13.1%

Some college16%

Bachelor's+69.8%

Housing tenure

41.7%

58.3%

Owner41.7%

Renter58.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Orono, ME has changed in 5 years

Income

$47,412 → $59,784

up 26.1%

Population

10,426 → 11,151

up 7.0%

Renter share

55.3% → 58.3%

+3.0 pts

Bachelor's+

69.3% → 69.8%

+0.5 pts

Census figures show median household income at $59,784 today, compared with $47,412 five years earlier. Census counts show Orono, ME adding about 725 residents over the five-year window, up 7.0% on net. The renter share has risen from 55.3% to 58.3%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder.

Community

Discussions about Orono

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View Orono rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Orono on your salary?

At $1,625/mo, how Orono rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $87,866/yr · Rent = 22.2% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $62,384/yr · Rent = 31.3% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $71,861/yr · Rent = 27.1% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $128,442/yr · Rent = 15.2% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $164,117/yr · Rent = 11.9% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $58,413/yr · Rent = 33.4% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $52,740/yr · Rent = 37% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $65,007/yr · Rent = 30% income

affordable

By apartment size

Orono rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Orono. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Orono

About renting in Orono, ME

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Orono is $1,625/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,120/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,540/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,210/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,970/mo.

At 33% of local median household income ($59,784/yr), Orono ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Orono an affordable city for renters?

Orono is considered moderate for renters. At $1,625/mo, rent takes approximately 33% of the local median household income ($59,784/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Orono slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Orono?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $65,000/year (~$31/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,625/mo in Orono. The local median household income is $59,784/yr, meaning the typical Orono household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Orono?

Rent in Orono has been relatively stable over the past year, with a 0.0% change year over year as of July 2026.

How does Orono rent compare to other cities in Maine?

Orono is one of the more affordable cities in Maine for rent, ranking #19 out of 25 tracked cities at $1,625/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Orono?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Orono ($1,625/mo): Waterville ($1,295/mo), Augusta ($1,533/mo), Bangor ($1,592/mo).

What percentage of Orono residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 58.3% of Orono households are renters, while 41.7% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Orono has a strong rental market.