Compare towns
Biddeford vs Saco vs Sutton vs Bangor
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 youngest population (median age 35).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Bangor has the most affordable homes ($220k median).
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 | Saco | Sutton | Bangor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,498 |
20,819 |
9,452Lowest |
31,938Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
41±1.3 5% above U.S. |
| Saco and Sutton 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% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Saco 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% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bangor and Sutton 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% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Biddeford and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,333±$4k 10% below U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$59,942±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,600±$25k 19% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$219,600±$10kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$100Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,055±$43Lowest 25% 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 | $4,401 41% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,076Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bangor 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
47.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Saco 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | #105 of 282 in MA | #37 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | Saco Public Schools | Sutton | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | None in town | Sutton High School | Bangor High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1Highest |
— | 12.6Lowest |
13.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 6 photos → | 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.