Compare towns
Biddeford vs Dover 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).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Saco has the most homeowners (72.8%).
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 | Dover | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,498 |
33,364Highest |
20,819Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saco 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
| Dover and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,600±$25kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
| Dover and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Dover 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% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saco and Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | Dover School District | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1Highest |
12.7Lowest |
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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.