Compare towns
Biddeford vs Dedham vs Lewiston
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%).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Lewiston has the most affordable homes ($235k 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 | Dedham | Lewiston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,498Lowest |
25,237 |
38,324Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
37.3±1.2 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lewiston and Dedham 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% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Lewiston 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% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Biddeford and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,333±$4k 10% below U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$55,393±$4kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,600±$25k 19% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$235,100±$8kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$986±$44Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401 41% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$2,899Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.7%±5.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Lewiston 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% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Highest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #111 of 133 in ME | #119 of 282 in MA | #132 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | — | Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | — | Lewiston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
| 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.