Brewer, ME vs Orono, ME

Brewer is moderately more affordable than Orono, with a 6% lower cost of living index. Brewer scores 80 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 Brewer is $984/month compared to $1,150/month in Orono — a 14% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Brewer is more affordable at $218,100 median vs $219,200.

Median household income in Brewer is $51,490 compared to $56,890 in Orono (-9.5%). 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 Brewer spend roughly 22.9% 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 Brewer.