Compare towns
Biddeford vs Gorham vs Mapleton vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Gorham | Mapleton | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,498Highest |
18,300 |
1,884Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
41.8±6Highest 7% below ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
| Mapleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Mapleton 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% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Union and Mapleton 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% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Gorham and Biddeford 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 3% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Gorham and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,600±$25k 34% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$100 13% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Gorham and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401 45% above ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6 ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Gorham and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 4% below ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham and Union 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | Gorham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1Highest |
12.9Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.