Orono, ME · standard
ZIP Code 04473
Penobscot County, Maine - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 7,660
- 165/sq mi High-density area
- $61,528
- Median income Below-median income area
- $272,600
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 66.9%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Orono pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, mixed-tenure area.
- 32nd pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 38%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 165
- people per sq mi
- 47%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 04473 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 04473 (Orono, ME) rose +18.9% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 256.7 in 2023 to 305.2 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 04473 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Orono, Penobscot County, Maine, home to 7,660 residents across 46.5 square miles, a density of 165 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 04473 reports a modest median household income of $61,528 (16% below the average Maine ZIP), while per-capita income is $37,978. The poverty rate is 24.9%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Median home value is $272,600 (4% below the average Maine ZIP) and median rent is $1,255; 46.6% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 66.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 26, and the average commute is 16 minutes. The page also surfaces 7 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Penobscot County, so 04473 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 04473
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Orono, ME
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 04473.
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
22 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
20 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
16 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
12 establishments
- Construction
Construction
10 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 04473, Orono, ME · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
7,660
Population
46.5
Area (sq mi)
165
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 04473?
26.0
Median Age
54.5%
Male
45.5%
Female
5.7%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$61,528
Median Household Income
-16% vs state ZIP avg
$37,978
Per Capita Income
24.9%
Poverty Rate
4.2%
Unemployment Rate
16.2 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 04473 ranks among Maine ZIPs
Orono, ME household income vs. every Maine ZIP code
Median household income among 395 reporting Maine ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$61,528 34th percentile higher than 34% of 395 Maine ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Maine ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
3,633housing units
3,633
Total Housing Units
3,308
Occupied Units
325
Vacant Units
2.37
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$272,600
Median Home Value
-4% vs state ZIP avg
$1,255
Median Rent
1977
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+18.9%
YoY Change (2024)
305
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+205%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 04473 have increased 18.9% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +205% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +1.7% | 166 |
| 2021 | +12.4% | 187 |
| 2022 | +22.8% | 229 |
| 2023 | +12.0% | 257 |
| 2024 | +18.9% | 305 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 131 business establishments in ZIP 04473, employing approximately 1,961 people with a combined annual payroll of $106,971,000.
131
Businesses
1,961
Employees
$107.0M
Annual Payroll
13
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 22 | 16.8% |
| Health care and social assistance | 20 | 15.3% |
| Retail trade | 16 | 12.2% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 12 | 9.2% |
| Construction | 10 | 7.6% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 10 | 7.6% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 8 | 6.1% |
| Manufacturing | 7 | 5.3% |
| Finance and insurance | 7 | 5.3% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 6 | 4.6% |
| Wholesale trade | 3 | 2.3% |
| Information | 3 | 2.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 3 | 2.3% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 04473 vs 04489 →
ZIP 04473 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 04401
Bangor (04401)
44,899 residents
- 04468 9,521
Old Town (04468)
9,521 residents
- 04412 9,482
Brewer (04412)
9,482 residents
- 04473 7,660
Orono (04473)
7,660 residents
- 04461 3,070
Milford (04461)
3,070 residents
- 04469 2,702
Orono (04469)
2,702 residents
- 04411 1,492
Bradley (04411)
1,492 residents
- 04489 197
Stillwater (04489)
197 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 04473 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 04473 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 04461
Milford (04461)
$85,111 median income
- 04411
Bradley (04411)
$76,667 median income
- 04401
Bangor (04401)
$66,932 median income
- 04412
Brewer (04412)
$66,613 median income
- 04473
Orono (04473)
$61,528 median income
- 04468
Old Town (04468)
$56,358 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 04473 ranks #5 of 6 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 04473, both outside ME so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (7,660 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Penobscot County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 04473 in?
ZIP code 04473 (Orono) is located in Penobscot County, Maine. Penobscot County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/penobscot-me.
What is the population of ZIP code 04473?
ZIP code 04473 in Orono, ME has a population of 7,660 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 04473?
The median household income in ZIP 04473 is $61,528, which is 19% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 04473?
The median home value in ZIP 04473 is $272,600, which is 2% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 04473?
The largest racial group in ZIP 04473 is White at 89.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 04473?
ZIP code 04473 has 131 business establishments employing approximately 1,961 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 04473?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 04473 are: Accommodation and food services (22), Health care and social assistance (20), Retail trade (16). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 04473?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 04473 increased by 18.9% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 205%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 04473?
In ZIP code 04473, 80.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 66.9% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 04473?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 04473 is 16.2 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 04473?
In ZIP code 04473, approximately 46.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 53.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 04473?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 04473 is 24.9% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 04473's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 04473 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Orono, ME ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.