PlainZIP

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
$61,528
Median income
$272,600
Median home value
66.9%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Orono pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, mixed-tenure area.

32th 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.

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 Maine average), while per-capita income is $37,978. Local economic indicators show a 24.9% poverty rate alongside 4.2% unemployment. The typical home here is valued at $272,600 (4% below the state average); renters pay a median of $1,255 monthly, and 46.6% of units 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. To put 04473 in local context, 7 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Penobscot County, for a geography-aware comparison.

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.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

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

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 04473?

26.0

Median Age

54.5%

Male

45.5%

Female

5.7%

Foreign-Born

White 89.8%
African American 0.5%
Asian 2.9%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 5.8%
Hispanic or Latino 2.4%

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

$37,978

Per Capita Income

24.9%

Poverty Rate

4.2%

Unemployment Rate

16.2 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 04473 ranks nationally

Orono, ME household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$61,528 32nd percentile higher than 32% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US 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?

High School Graduate or Higher 80.7%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 66.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

3,633

Total Housing Units

3,308

Occupied Units

325

Vacant Units

2.37

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 46.6%
Renter 53.4%

$272,600

Median Home Value

-4% vs state

$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.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 04473 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 04473 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

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.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
04489 Stillwater, ME 197 2.1 mi
04469 Orono, ME 2,702 2.6 mi
04412 Brewer, ME 9,482 7.2 mi
04411 Bradley, ME 1,492 6.9 mi
04468 Old Town, ME 9,521 9.5 mi
04401 Bangor, ME 44,899 6.8 mi
04461 Milford, ME 3,070 9.0 mi

More ZIP Codes in Penobscot County

04401 standard
Bangor, ME
Pop: 44,899
04468 standard
Old Town, ME
Pop: 9,521
04412 standard
Brewer, ME
Pop: 9,482
04444 standard
Hampden, ME
Pop: 8,824
04457 standard
Lincoln, ME
Pop: 5,948
04462 standard
Millinocket, ME
Pop: 4,835

Related Areas

Penobscot County Orono, ME Maine

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.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.