Augusta, ME vs Orono, ME

Augusta is moderately more affordable than Orono, with a 8.7% lower cost of living index. Augusta scores 78 compared to 85 for Orono, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Orono can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Augusta is $887/month compared to $1,150/month in Orono — a 23% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Augusta is more affordable at $188,900 median vs $219,200.

Median household income in Augusta is $48,756 compared to $56,890 in Orono (-14.3%). While Orono is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Augusta spend roughly 21.8% of their income on rent, less than the 24.3% in Orono.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (46.1°F vs 43.2°F). Orono receives more rainfall at 44.4" per year compared to 41.8" in Augusta.