Compare towns
Biddeford vs Lee vs Saco
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).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Lee | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,498Highest |
5,719Lowest |
20,819 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Saco 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Saco and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,600±$25k 19% above U.S. |
$352,700±$19kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Saco and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
$1,375±$212Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Lee and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401 41% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee and Saco 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saco and Lee 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | Lee | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | Lee Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1Highest |
9.2Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.