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Affordable & Income-Based Housing in Orono

Orono, ME has 4 affordable and income-based rental properties offering 235 total units. All 4 properties have been inspected and scored, with 3 rated excellent and 1 rated good -- a strong overall showing. With a median rent of $1,280 per month (Census ACS 5-Year, 2024), income-based housing can provide meaningful savings for cost-conscious renters in this community.

4
Properties
235
Total units
94/100
Avg HUD score

At a glance

🏠 Affordability
$1,280/mo

Affordability in Orono, ME

According to Census ACS 5-Year data (2024), the median gross rent in Orono is $1,280 per month, the median household income is $59,784 per year, and 58% of residents rent their homes. Orono has 4 HUD-assisted or income-restricted properties totaling 235 units, which can offer meaningful relief for renters seeking costs below the local market rate.

Census ACS 5-Year
🛡️ Safety
47 / 100k · 2024

Safety

According to FBI Crime Data Explorer, the Orono Police Department reported a violent crime rate of 47 per 100,000 residents in 2024. Crime rates are not directly comparable across cities due to differences in reporting methods and local definitions.

Of the 4 HUD-assisted properties in Orono, none are located in a FEMA-designated high-risk flood zone.

FBI Crime Data Explorer
🚶 Getting around
Walk Score 2 · Car-Dependent

Getting Around Orono

According to Walk Score, the area around assisted properties in Orono scores a 2 out of 100 for walkability, described as Car-Dependent, with a Bike Score of 29 out of 100. No Transit Score is available. Most daily errands will require a car.

Walk Score
🎓 Schools
3 schools · 1 districts

Schools

According to the NCES Common Core of Data, 3 public schools across 1 district serve Orono, including 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high school. Quality and programming vary by school, so renters should check the assigned schools for their specific address before making a decision.

NCES Common Core of Data
📊 Cost of living
$59,784 median income

Cost of Living in Orono, ME

The median household income in Orono is $59,784 per year, according to the Census ACS 5-Year estimate. The median rent across all rental housing in the city is $1,280 per month, also per Census ACS 5-Year data.

Income-based and HUD-assisted housing in Orono can offer significant savings for renters who qualify, with rents typically tied to household income rather than market rates.

  • Median household income: $59,784/year (Census ACS 5-Year)
  • Median rent (all rentals): $1,280/month (Census ACS 5-Year)
  • Renter-occupied households: 58% (Census ACS 5-Year)
Census ACS 5-Year
🌊 Environment & risk

Environment

All 4 HUD-assisted properties in Orono have been mapped for flood risk, and none fall in a high-risk flood zone.

FEMA · EPA AirNow
HUD Inspection Scoresavg 94/100(4 of 4 scored)
90+ (3)70–89 (1)

4 properties on the map

Top-rated properties

Browse all 4 affordable apartments in Orono→

Other cities in ME

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Your rights & resources

› How HUD & Section 8 housing works› Tenant rights in ME› Housing assistance & waitlists› Free legal aid (LawHelp)› Energy bill help (LIHEAP)

Read more

A Closer Look at Affordable Housing in Orono, ME

Orono is a small college town in central Maine with a notably strong inventory of assisted housing relative to its size. With 4 HUD-assisted properties and 235 total units, renters here have a focused but well-performing set of options to consider.

All 4 properties in Orono carried inspection scores, and 3 of the 4 rated as excellent -- a standout result. None of the mapped properties fall in a high-risk flood zone, according to HUD inspection data.

Getting around Orono without a car can be a challenge. According to Walk Score, the city scores a 2, rated Car-Dependent, with a bike score of 29.

Orono is a majority-renter community: 58 percent of households rent, according to the Census ACS 5-Year estimates (as of 2024). The median household income is $59,784 and the median rent is $1,280 per month, per the same source -- context worth keeping in mind when evaluating how far an income-restricted unit's savings can go here.

According to the FBI Crime Data Explorer (2024), Orono's violent crime rate was 47 per 100,000 residents, as reported by the Orono Police Department.

Orono is served by 1 school district with 3 public schools -- including 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high school -- according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Eligibility & how to apply

Maine income limits (2026)Maine public housing authoritiesSection 8 waitlists in Maine

Helpful guides

How Section 8 Vouchers WorkWhat Is Income-Based Housing?How to Apply for Affordable HousingSection 8 vs. LIHTCUnderstanding HUD Inspection ScoresHow Affordable Housing Waitlists Work
Research: what 22,600 HUD inspection scores reveal →