Compare towns
Biddeford vs Exeter vs Bangor
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 youngest population (median age 35).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Bangor has the most affordable homes ($220k median).
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 | Exeter | Bangor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,498 |
16,151Lowest |
31,938Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41±1.3 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Bangor 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Biddeford and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,333±$4k 10% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$59,942±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,600±$25k 19% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$219,600±$10kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,055±$43Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401 41% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,076Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
47.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #37 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | Exeter High School | Bangor High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1Highest |
12.1Lowest |
13.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 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.