Photo: Bcody80 · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Orono is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns
Orono differs from Maine on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 10 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 04473, 04469. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Orono
Orono is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Orono is healthier than 72%. Against the 9,299 towns with similar household incomes ($46K–$77K), it’s healthier than 94%. Health Grade ↓
Mental distress runs high in Orono
1 in 4 adults are in frequent mental distress (22.9%), vs 17.7% across Maine. Loneliness is above the state too: 39.5%, vs 32% across Maine. Mind & connection ↓
Stroke and diabetes are less common in Orono
Orono runs below Maine on eight chronic conditions, most of all stroke (2.2% vs 3.6%), diabetes (7% vs 11.2%) and cancer (6.2% vs 9.9%). A young population is part of it: only 11% of residents are 65 or older (Maine 22%). Conditions ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Orono doesn’t win on
18.3% of adults binge drink, vs 15.5% across Maine, even though fewer of them smoke. Habits ↓
Orono is the healthiest of the towns around it
Its B+ tops all five graded neighbors. The closest is Eddington (B). Around town ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Maine figure falls outside Orono’s likely range; Orono’s figures come from ZIP codes 04473, 04469, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A−.
What’s behind Orono’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Orono is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns, #41 of 143 in Maine. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than almost every U.S. town); mental distress pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Orono’s median household income is $61,528; among the 9,299 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($46K–$77K), it’s healthier than 94%, more than its income alone would suggest.
How Orono adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Orono runs above Maine.
2 in 5 Orono adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Out of every 100 Orono adults…
Orono runs below ME on 8 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of Orono residents are 65 or older, vs 22% across Maine. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with Maine
Share of adults, with the Maine figure marked.
38 miles of trails across 17 parks and preserves
Orono and the towns around it
Orono has the best Health Grade of the 6 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orono | B+ | 32.4% | 7% | 11.1% | ZIP codes |
| Old Town | C+ | 37.3% | 10.3% | 14.8% | CDC place |
| Orono | — | — | — | — | |
| Glenburn | B− | 37.4% | 10.6% | 14.7% | ZIP 04401 |
| Bradley | D | 40.3% | 13.1% | 19.2% | ZIP 04411 |
| Eddington | B | 36.8% | 10.9% | 13.6% | ZIP 04428 |
| Bangor | C+ | 37.9% | 11% | 15.3% | CDC place |
| Bradley | — | — | — | — |
Orono: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Bradley: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Care in and near Orono
1 community health center in Orono, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Orono; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Orono adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maine.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
16.9% of Orono adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Maine.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Orono adults live with a disability (Maine 32.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Orono
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Orono is better than Maine on 10 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Maine figure falls inside Orono’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Orono | ME | U.S. | vs ME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.3%14.6–20.2 | 18.7% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.3%10.7–14 | 14.3% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 22.9%19.5–25.9 | 17.7% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32.4%28.4–36.4 | 32.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 7%6.2–7.9 | 11.2% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 25.9%23.7–28 | 35.7% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 28.6%26.3–30.8 | 37.4% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 20.3%18.7–21.9 | 32% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 13.6%12.2–15.1 | 12.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.2%5.7–6.8 | 9.9% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.8%4.3–5.3 | 7.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.6%4.8–6.4 | 8.4% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.2%2–2.5 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.1%10.9–15.6 | 14.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.1%8.9–13.3 | 14.4% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 21.6%18.1–25.2 | 23.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.3%16–20.9 | 15.5% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.5%29.8–37.4 | 32.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.9%6.1–10.2 | 7.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.4%75.5–81.1 | 81.2% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.1%59.1–65 | 63.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 76.1%72.6–79.7 | 87.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 62.8%60.6–65 | 76.4% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71.3%68–74.5 | 70.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 81.1%76.3–85.2 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 31.5%28.3–34.6 | 26.9% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 39.5%35.6–43.3 | 32% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.4%20–26.9 | 22.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.2%9.6–17 | 10.7% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.1%7.8–12.4 | 9.8% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.1%6.4–9.6 | 7.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.5%8.9–14 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.9%12.3–21.5 | 14.3% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.7%28.4–36.8 | 32.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.7%8.5–10.9 | 14% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20%16.3–23.4 | 15.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.1%5.4–6.7 | 8.4% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.3%3.6–5 | 4.4% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.1%7.3–10.8 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.6%2.3–2.9 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Lower |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Maine figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Orono
Is Orono a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Orono is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns: B+ for health, #41 of 143 in Maine. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 94%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Orono?
CDC estimates 32.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.4% and 36.4%, against 32.7% across Maine and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Orono?
St. Joseph Hospital in Bangor, 4.9 miles in a straight line from Orono’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Orono have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.1–10.2%), against 7.8% across Maine.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Orono more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Orono.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Maine figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.