Belfast, ME vs Orono, ME

Orono is moderately more affordable than Belfast, with a 6.3% lower cost of living index. Belfast scores 91 compared to 85 for Orono, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Belfast can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Belfast is $986/month compared to $1,150/month in Orono — a 14% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Belfast has cheaper rent, Orono actually has lower median home values ($219,200 vs $307,700).

Median household income in Belfast is $61,322 compared to $56,890 in Orono (+7.8%). While Belfast is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Belfast spend roughly 19.3% of their income on rent, less than the 24.3% in Orono.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (45°F vs 43.2°F). Orono receives more rainfall at 44.4" per year compared to 41.7" in Belfast.