Compare towns
Biddeford vs Thorndike
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Biddeford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Thorndike has the most kids (49.8% 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.
| Measure | Biddeford | Thorndike |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 22,498Highest |
1,403Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Highest 22% below ME |
19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
| Biddeford and Thorndike 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% |
49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±1.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Biddeford and Thorndike 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 ME: 36.2% |
25.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $72,333±$4kLowest 3% below ME |
$78,438±$14kHighest 5% above ME |
| Thorndike 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 34% above ME |
$205,600±$88kLowest 31% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$100Highest 13% above ME |
$836±$317Lowest 27% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401Highest 45% above ME |
$2,537Lowest 16% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6Highest ME: 48.4% |
36%±62.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Biddeford and Thorndike 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% |
6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 4% below ME |
36 minHighest 46% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Thorndike 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 | — |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | Mt View High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1Highest |
11.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | 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.