What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% 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	South Berwick
People
Population	22,498Highest	7,670Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest ME: +2.6%	+3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME	39±2.5Highest 13% below ME
	South Berwick 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 ME: 18.1%	26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	17.1%±1.7Highest ME: 22.4%	15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Biddeford and South Berwick 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 ME: 36.2%	41.8%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8%	4.2%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,333±$4kLowest 3% below ME	$99,572±$13kHighest 33% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$396,600±$25kLowest 34% above ME	$428,300±$26kHighest 44% above ME
	South Berwick and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$100Lowest 13% above ME	$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,401Lowest 45% above ME	$4,956Highest 63% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.2%±6Lowest ME: 48.4%	53.5%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	South Berwick 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 ME: 10.7%	3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	78.3%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 4% below ME	27 minHighest 9% above ME
Work from home	14.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	17.6%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	South Berwick 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	#58 of 133 in ME
School district	Biddeford Public Schools	RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town	Biddeford High School	Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.1Highest	13.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.