Compare towns
Biddeford vs Hope vs Mapleton vs Kennebunkport
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).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Kennebunkport has the most expensive homes ($741k 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 | Hope | Mapleton | Kennebunkport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,498Highest |
1,748Lowest |
1,884 |
3,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
59.1±5Highest 32% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
8%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hope 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% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
36.9%±8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
52.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,333±$4kLowest 3% below ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$102,747±$30kHighest 37% above ME |
| Kennebunkport 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 |
$373,400±$33k 26% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$740,500±$109kHighest 150% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$100 13% above ME |
$1,219±$182 7% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,429±$296Highest 25% above ME |
| Kennebunkport and Biddeford 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 |
$3,842 27% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,914 29% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25.8%±20.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Hope 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% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
4.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
81.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% below ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
34 minHighest 38% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
31.6%±9.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Kennebunkport and Hope 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 | — | — | #42 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | Hope Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 5 photos → |
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.