Compare towns
Biddeford vs Mapleton vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Biddeford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Mapleton has the most homeowners (79.9%).
Waterville has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Mapleton | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,498Highest |
1,884Lowest |
17,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
41.8±6Highest 7% below ME |
35.5±2.5 21% below ME |
| Mapleton and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton 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 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±2.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
18.1%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,333±$4k 3% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$53,580±$4kLowest 28% below ME |
| Mapleton 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 |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$184,600±$21kLowest 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$100Highest 13% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$978±$72 14% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401Highest 45% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,755 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.5%±8.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Waterville and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.5% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
20.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
48.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1959 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
18 minLowest 27% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.6%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Waterville 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 | — | #105 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Waterville Public Schools |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | None in town | Waterville Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.