Compare towns
Biddeford vs Canton vs Dedham vs Waterville
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 the most renters (51.9% rent).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
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 | Canton | Dedham | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,498 |
24,748 |
25,237Highest |
17,077Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
35.5±2.5 9% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
18.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,333±$4k 10% below U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$53,580±$4kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Canton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,600±$25k 19% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$184,600±$21kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$978±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Canton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401 41% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$2,755Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.5%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton and Dedham 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 | #81 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #105 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Dedham | Waterville Public Schools |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | Canton High | Dedham High | Waterville Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1Highest |
13.1 |
10.4Lowest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.