Compare towns
Biddeford vs Putney 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).
Putney 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 | Putney | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,498Highest |
2,622Lowest |
20,819 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
37.2±5.2 4% below U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest 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% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saco and Putney 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% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$92,241±$11kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Saco and Putney 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. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below 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±$100Highest 9% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
| Biddeford and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 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 32% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saco and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1 |
— | — |
| 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.