Compare towns

Biddeford vs Cornwall vs Saco

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).
Cornwall has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).

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.

MeasureBiddefordCornwallSaco
People
Population
22,498Highest
1,208Lowest
20,819
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
35±2.6Lowest
10% below U.S.
50.4±4.6Highest
30% above U.S.
44.9±1.5
15% above U.S.
Cornwall and Saco 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%
18.7%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.7%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
Cornwall and Saco 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%
25.7%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Cornwall 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%
54.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
11%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$72,333±$4kLowest
10% below U.S.
$114,583±$32kHighest
42% above U.S.
$92,241±$11k
14% above U.S.
Cornwall and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$396,600±$25kLowest
19% above U.S.
$458,000±$49kHighest
38% above U.S.
$413,100±$17k
24% above U.S.
Cornwall and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,292±$100Highest
9% below U.S.
$1,125±$206Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,249±$385
12% below U.S.
Biddeford and Saco 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.
$6,726Highest
116% above U.S.
$4,807
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.2%±6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
61.9%±65.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.3%±14
U.S.: 51.1%
Cornwall 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%
0.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
48.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
10% below U.S.
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
24 minHighest
10% below U.S.
Work from home
14.2%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.4%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Cornwall and Saco 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 — #38 of 133 in ME
School district Biddeford Public Schools Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Saco Public Schools
High school in town Biddeford High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
14.1
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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.