Compare towns
Biddeford vs Danvers 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).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
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.
| Measure | Biddeford | Danvers | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,498 |
28,098Highest |
20,819Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
| Danvers 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% |
17.2%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Danvers 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% |
22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danvers 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% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,600±$25kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$6,654Highest 113% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Danvers 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Danvers 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1Highest |
12.8Lowest |
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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.