What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belfast has the oldest population (median age 60.6).

Biddeford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Belfast	Biddeford
People
Population	6,986Lowest	22,498Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+6%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	60.6±3.1Highest 35% above ME	35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME
Kids under 18	14.2%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1%	15.6%±2.2Highest ME: 18.1%
	Biddeford and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	39.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4%	17.1%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	32.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8%	11%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,679±$9kLowest 9% below ME	$72,333±$4kHighest 3% below ME
	Biddeford and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,900±$34kLowest 15% above ME	$396,600±$25kHighest 34% above ME
	Biddeford and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$962±$92Lowest 16% below ME	$1,292±$100Highest 13% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,145Lowest 37% above ME	$4,401Highest 45% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±14.4Highest ME: 48.4%	37.2%±6Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Belfast and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16%Highest ME: 10.7%	15.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 10 yrs older than ME	1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 13% below ME	24 minHighest 4% below ME
Work from home	12%±6Lowest ME: 15.9%	14.2%±2.7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Biddeford and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#84 of 133 in ME	#111 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 71	Biddeford Public Schools
High school in town	Belfast Area High School	Biddeford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	14.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.