What stands out worked out from the figures below

Biddeford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

Dedham has the most homeowners (95.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Biddeford	Dedham
People
Population	22,498Highest	1,656Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest ME: +2.6%	-2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME	46.5±2.2Highest 4% above ME
Kids under 18	15.6%±2.2Lowest ME: 18.1%	23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	17.1%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4%	18.7%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4%
	Dedham and Biddeford 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 ME: 36.2%	49.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8%	3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,333±$4kLowest 3% below ME	$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$396,600±$25kHighest 34% above ME	$356,400±$33kLowest 20% above ME
	Biddeford and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$100Lowest 13% above ME	$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME
	Dedham and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,401Highest 45% above ME	$3,942Lowest 30% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.2%±6Highest ME: 48.4%	13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Biddeford and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.5%Highest ME: 10.7%	9%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	95.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 4% below ME	30 minHighest 22% above ME
Work from home	14.2%±2.7Highest ME: 15.9%	9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Biddeford and Dedham 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	—
School district	Biddeford Public Schools	Dedham Public Schools
High school in town	Biddeford High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	14.1	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.