Compare towns
Biddeford vs Northfield vs Westbrook
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).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Westbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
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 | Northfield | Westbrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,498Highest |
5,920Lowest |
20,775 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
36.4±4.1 6% below U.S. |
37.4±1Highest 4% below U.S. |
| Westbrook and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Westbrook 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% |
20%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Northfield and Westbrook 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% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,333±$4k 10% below U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$85,038±$7kHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,600±$25kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$274,400±$21kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$383,300±$19k 15% above U.S. |
| Biddeford and Westbrook 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. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,392±$74Highest about the U.S. average |
| Westbrook 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. |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
$4,005Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield and Westbrook 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% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westbrook 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | #115 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Westbrook Public Schools |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | Northfield Middle/High School | Westbrook High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1Highest |
10.0Lowest |
12.0 |
| 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.