What stands out worked out from the figures below

Biddeford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

Somersworth has the most kids (19.9% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Biddeford	Somersworth
People
Population	22,498Highest	12,111Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S.	38.4±2.7Highest about the U.S. average
	Somersworth and Biddeford 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%	19.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Somersworth and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.1%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Biddeford and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S.	$74,504±$13kHighest 8% below U.S.
	Somersworth and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$396,600±$25kHighest 19% above U.S.	$318,400±$23kLowest 4% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$100Lowest 9% below U.S.	$1,477±$134Highest 5% above U.S.
	Somersworth and Biddeford 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.	$6,805Highest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.3%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Somersworth and Biddeford 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%	11.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	57.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.	1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.	26 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	14.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Biddeford and Somersworth 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	#117 of 120 in NH
School district	Biddeford Public Schools	Somersworth School District
High school in town	Biddeford High School	Somersworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.1Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.