Compare towns
Biddeford vs Calais vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Biddeford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Calais | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,498Highest |
1,713Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Biddeford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,600±$25kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Biddeford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$100Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Calais 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 | — | — |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.