Compare towns
Biddeford vs Durham 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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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.
| Measure | Biddeford | Durham | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,498Highest |
15,080Lowest |
20,819 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35±2.6 10% below U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Saco and Biddeford 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest 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% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
| Durham 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. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| 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. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Saco 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% |
15.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Saco 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 | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | Oyster River Coop School District | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1Highest |
12.3Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.