What stands out worked out from the figures below

Biddeford has the most people working from home (14.2%).

Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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	Ellsworth
People
Population	22,498Highest	8,657Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+8.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME	43±2.4Highest 4% below ME
Kids under 18	15.6%±2.2Lowest ME: 18.1%	18.4%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Ellsworth and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.1%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4%	22.1%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4%
	Ellsworth 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%	39.3%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8%	5.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,333±$4kLowest 3% below ME	$77,375±$18kHighest 4% above ME
	Ellsworth and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$396,600±$25kHighest 34% above ME	$242,300±$22kLowest 18% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$100Highest 13% above ME	$1,017±$195Lowest 11% below ME
	Biddeford and Ellsworth 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	$3,262Lowest 7% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.2%±6Lowest ME: 48.4%	62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line	15.5%Highest ME: 10.7%	9.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	66.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME	1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 4% below ME	25 minHighest about the ME average
Work from home	14.2%±2.7Highest ME: 15.9%	7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#111 of 133 in ME	#63 of 133 in ME
School district	Biddeford Public Schools	Ellsworth Public Schools
High school in town	Biddeford High School	Ellsworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.1Highest	12.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.