What stands out worked out from the figures below

Biddeford has the most expensive homes ($397k median).

Auburn has the most kids (21.4% under 18).

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	Biddeford	Auburn
People
Population	22,498Lowest	24,602Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest ME: +2.6%	+4.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME	41.4±2.7Highest 8% below ME
Kids under 18	15.6%±2.2Lowest ME: 18.1%	21.4%±2.3Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	17.1%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4%	19.8%±2Highest ME: 22.4%
	Auburn and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	27.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8%	5.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,333±$4kHighest 3% below ME	$66,647±$5kLowest 11% below ME
	Biddeford and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$396,600±$25kHighest 34% above ME	$282,000±$12kLowest 5% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$100Highest 13% above ME	$1,041±$74Lowest 9% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,401Highest 45% above ME	$3,687Lowest 21% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.2%±6Lowest ME: 48.4%	53.4%±7.4Highest ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line	15.5%Highest ME: 10.7%	13.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	59.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME	1954Highest 23 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 4% below ME	22 minLowest 12% below ME
Work from home	14.2%±2.7Highest ME: 15.9%	11.5%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Biddeford and Auburn 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	#111 of 133 in ME	#110 of 133 in ME
School district	Biddeford Public Schools	Auburn Public Schools
High school in town	Biddeford High School	Edward Little High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.1Highest	13.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.