Compare towns
Biddeford vs Bangor vs Dayton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Biddeford has the youngest population (median age 35).
Bangor has the most affordable homes ($220k median).
Dayton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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.
| Measure | Biddeford | Bangor | Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,498 |
31,938Highest |
2,313Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% ME: +2.6% |
-3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
41±1.3 8% below ME |
42.1±5.5Highest 6% below ME |
| Dayton and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±1.7 ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Dayton and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
19.9%±1.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bangor 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% ME: 36.2% |
35.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
10.4%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Biddeford and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,333±$4k 3% below ME |
$59,942±$7kLowest 20% below ME |
$113,750±$24kHighest 52% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,600±$25k 34% above ME |
$219,600±$10kLowest 26% below ME |
$398,200±$34kHighest 34% above ME |
| Dayton and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$100Highest 13% above ME |
$1,055±$43Lowest 7% below ME |
$1,215±$867 7% above ME |
| Biddeford and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401Highest 45% above ME |
$3,076Lowest about the ME average |
$3,872 28% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
51.5%±6.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
38%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Bangor and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.5% ME: 10.7% |
17.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1% ME: 74.3% |
47.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
1954 23 yrs older than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% below ME |
17 minLowest 33% below ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±3.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Dayton and Biddeford 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 | #37 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 | Dayton Public Schools |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | Bangor High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1Highest |
13.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.