What stands out worked out from the figures below

Biddeford has the oldest population (median age 35).

Durham has the highest household income ($124k).

Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Durham
People
Population	22,498Highest	15,080Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	35±2.6Highest 10% below U.S.	20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S.
Kids under 18	15.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%	10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.1%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S.	$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$396,600±$25kLowest 19% above U.S.	$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$100Lowest 9% below U.S.	$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average
	Durham and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	15.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	64.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 10% below U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Durham and Biddeford 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	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	Biddeford Public Schools	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	Biddeford High School	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.1Highest	12.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	51 photos →

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.