What stands out worked out from the figures below

Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).

Lyman has the most homeowners (95%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Biddeford	Lyman
People
Population	22,498Highest	4,612Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest ME: +2.6%	+4.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME	53.8±2Highest 20% above ME
Kids under 18	15.6%±2.2Highest ME: 18.1%	15.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Biddeford and Lyman 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%	26.1%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8%	3.3%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,333±$4kLowest 3% below ME	$87,284±$14kHighest 17% above ME
	Lyman and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$396,600±$25kHighest 34% above ME	$360,400±$44kLowest 22% above ME
	Biddeford and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$100Highest 13% above ME	$1,063±$522Lowest 7% below ME
	Biddeford and Lyman 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	$2,717Lowest 11% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.2%±6Lowest ME: 48.4%	37.7%±44.7Highest ME: 48.4%
	Lyman 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%	9%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	95%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME	1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 4% below ME	33 minHighest 35% above ME
Work from home	14.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	18.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Lyman 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	#40 of 133 in ME
School district	Biddeford Public Schools	RSU 57/MSAD 57
High school in town	Biddeford High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	14.1	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.