Compare towns
Biddeford vs Dedham 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%).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Dedham | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,498 |
25,237Highest |
17,077Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
35.5±2.5 9% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham 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% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Waterville 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% |
30.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
18.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,333±$4k 10% below U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$53,580±$4kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,600±$25k 19% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$184,600±$21kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$978±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401 41% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$2,755Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.5%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Waterville 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% |
20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Highest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham and Waterville 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #105 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | Dedham | Waterville Public Schools |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | Dedham High | Waterville Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
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.