Compare towns
Biddeford vs Dalton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Dalton has the most homeowners (70.7%).
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 | Dalton | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,498Highest |
6,256Lowest |
17,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
35.5±2.5 9% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Biddeford 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% |
27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
18.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,333±$4k 10% below U.S. |
$79,438±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$53,580±$4kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Dalton and Biddeford 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. |
$295,700±$26k 11% below U.S. |
$184,600±$21kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$100Highest 9% below U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$978±$72 31% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401Highest 41% above U.S. |
$4,276 37% above U.S. |
$2,755Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.5%±8.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterville and Dalton 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% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Highest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterville 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #105 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | Central Berkshire | Waterville Public Schools |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | Wahconah Regional High | Waterville Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1Highest |
10.9Lowest |
12.8 |
| 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.