Compare towns

Biddeford vs Dover vs Westbrook

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 highest household income ($95k).
Westbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).

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.

MeasureBiddefordDoverWestbrook
People
Population
22,498
33,364Highest
20,775Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
35±2.6Lowest
10% below U.S.
36.9±1.9
5% below U.S.
37.4±1Highest
4% below U.S.
Westbrook and Dover 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%
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
18.5%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Westbrook and Dover 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%
18.1%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Westbrook 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%
41.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
11%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
9%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Biddeford and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$72,333±$4kLowest
10% below U.S.
$94,829±$7kHighest
17% above U.S.
$85,038±$7k
5% above U.S.
Dover and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$396,600±$25k
19% above U.S.
$436,700±$20kHighest
31% above U.S.
$383,300±$19kLowest
15% above U.S.
Dover and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,292±$100Lowest
9% below U.S.
$1,607±$100Highest
14% above U.S.
$1,392±$74
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,401
41% above U.S.
$8,249Highest
164% above U.S.
$4,005Lowest
28% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.2%±6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.1%±7.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Dover and Westbrook 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%
8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
48.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
61.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minHighest
10% below U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
19 minLowest
29% below U.S.
Work from home
14.2%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Dover and Westbrook 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 #115 of 133 in ME
School district Biddeford Public Schools Dover School District Westbrook Public Schools
High school in town Biddeford High School Dover Senior High School Westbrook High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.1Highest
12.7
12.0Lowest
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.