Compare towns
Biddeford vs Castleton vs Saco vs Westbrook
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).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Saco has the oldest population (median age 44.9).
Westbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
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.
| Measure | Biddeford | Castleton | Saco | Westbrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,498Highest |
4,453Lowest |
20,819 |
20,775 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
37.4±1 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Westbrook 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% |
20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton and Saco 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% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$92,241±$11kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$85,038±$7k 5% above U.S. |
| Saco and Westbrook 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. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$383,300±$19k 15% above U.S. |
| Saco and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,392±$74Highest about the U.S. average |
| Westbrook and Biddeford 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. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,005 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Saco 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% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
61.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saco and Westbrook 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #38 of 133 in ME | #115 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Saco Public Schools | Westbrook Public Schools |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | None in town | None in town | Westbrook High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1Highest |
— | — | 12.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.