10 Best Independent Living Communities in Orono, ME

Independent Living

For those who wish to live primarily without assistance but would like the convenience of having housekeeping handled by professionalls, an Independent Living Community could be the perfect choice. Basic needs such as meal planning and housekeeping are handled by staff and a calendar of recreational and leisure activities is maintained, allowing residents the autonomy to use their time as they choose, free from daily responsibilities. Along with their daily needs being met, residents can enjoy the opportunity to live among peers, in a community with others of similar age groups and interests. Within the individual units, residents have access to their own private living space and a full kitchen, and can even live with a partner if they choose. While policies vary between locations, numerous residences allow pets as well. Nursing and health care services can always be arranged for with independent care providers if desired. There are an assortment of advantages and costs to balance when determining an independent living community. It is important to determine if these services are included in your care plan: Waiting list deposit, field trips, wellness program, initial assessment fee, move-in fee, utilities, internet access, and private phone. The luxuries that pertain to independent living include laundry service, beauty salon & barber shop, security guards, fitness center & swimming pool, community activities, concierge services, private rental hall, and transportation.

Cost of Living

The total cost of living can be a major factor in determining which community is the best fit for you or your loved one. The rent burden for Orono is around 16.5% of the average monthly income. The median monthly price for rent in Orono is about $1,117 and the median home value for Orono costs around $186,398.

Demographics and Values

Demographically, Orono is 0.8% Native American, 2.1% black, 3.4% mixed race, 1.8% Hispanic, 3.0% Asian, 0.1% other or not specified, 0.0% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, and 90.7% white. In Orono, 4.2% of the citizens are veterans of the United States military. Currently, the population of Orono consists of 10,914 people. Orono has a population density of 231 people per square mile. In Orono, 4.0% are widowed, 55.2% participate in the labor force, 11.0% have some form of disability, and 6.4% do not have health insurance. In terms of education, 15.7% have a high-school diploma, 58.9% have a college degree, and 31.8% have a graduate degree. Based on gender, 50.4% are male and 49.6% are female. The median age of Orono is 22 years old.

State Information

An overview of Maine

Residents of Maine enjoy its natural beauty which ranks 39th in the United States. The state of Maine has a cost of living index of 117.2 where a score of 100 is the national average, and anything above 100 is considered more expensive than the average. The state has a grocery index rating of 107.0 and a housing index rating of 123.1. The quality of life enjoyed by the average Maine citizen is ranked 32nd nation-wide. Additionally, Maine is ranked 19th by healthcare standards. There are 38 general hospitals and 115 health centers that provide care for 1,341,753 Maine residents. The three highest ranked hospitals in Maine are Northern Light Health, Maine Medical Center, and Northern Maine Medical Center.

Social demographics of the state

The state of Maine ranks 49th in the country for diversity, and the state is considered LGBTQ friendly. Twenty-two percent of Maine residents regularly attend a religious service from one of the state’s 1,574 different congregations. The top three non-Christian denominations in the state are Jewish-2%, Muslim-<1%, and Buddhist-<1%, with the most common Christian denominations consisting of Evangelical Protestant-14%, Mainline Protestant-21%, and Historically Black Protestant-2%. In Maine there are 185 masonic lodges. In the last presidential election 48% of Maine residents voted Democrat and 45% voted Republican. In Maine, 36% of the population is over the age of 55. The median age in the state is 45.

State-wide weather information

The average humidity across the state is 72%. The highest monthly average humidity rating is 77% in the month of November. During the winter, the average temperature in Maine drops to around 20F. During the winter, the average high temperature peaks at around 38F during the month of December. The average low temperature during the winter drops to around -7F in the month of January. The average temperature in the summer rises to around 65F. The average high summer temperature is around 82F in the month of July. The average low summer temperature is around 47F in the month of June. The average amount of precipitation peaks during the month of November at around 6.46 inches. The average monthly precipitation for the state of Maine is around 3.79 inches. The average air quality index rating in Maine is 35.4 AQI. The average air quality index rating peaks in the month of May with a rating of around 44.2 AQI. While residents of Maine mostly enjoy pleasant conditions, it’s important to be aware of inclement weather as well, which in Maine can include earthquakes (moderate) and hurricanes.

Wildlife to be found in Maine

The state of Maine has a diverse array of plant and animal life. Local plant life can consist of downy serviceberry, bog rosemary, pagoda dogwood, and red maple. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the caribou, the large baleen whales, the moose, or the meadow jumping mouse. The state animal of Maine is the the moose.