Compare towns
Biddeford vs Needham 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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Saco has the oldest population (median age 44.9).
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 | Needham | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,498 |
32,459Highest |
20,819Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Saco and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saco and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,600±$25kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #111 of 133 in ME | #19 of 282 in MA | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | Needham | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1Highest |
11.9Lowest |
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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.