Compare towns
Biddeford vs Gorham vs Rye
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).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Gorham | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,498Highest |
18,300 |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Rye 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% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 10% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rye and Gorham 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. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$100Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Rye and Gorham 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. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rye and Gorham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #111 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1Highest |
12.9Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.