Compare towns
Biddeford vs Saco vs Williston
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,498Highest |
20,819 |
10,144Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williston and Saco 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston 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% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Saco 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% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Williston and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,600±$25kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Williston 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | Saco Public Schools | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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.