What stands out worked out from the figures below

Biddeford has the most expensive homes ($397k median).

Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Unity
People
Population	22,498Highest	1,858Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	35±2.6Highest 22% below ME	27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME
Kids under 18	15.6%±2.2Highest ME: 18.1%	14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Biddeford and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.1%±1.7Highest ME: 22.4%	11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8%	30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,333±$4kHighest 3% below ME	$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME
	Biddeford and Unity 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	$206,900±$28kLowest 30% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$100Highest 13% above ME	$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,401Highest 45% above ME	$2,510Lowest 17% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.2%±6Lowest ME: 48.4%	44.8%±13Highest ME: 48.4%
	Unity and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	17.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	72.3%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 4% below ME	21 minLowest 14% below ME
Work from home	14.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Unity 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 · Ecology Learning Center
High school in town	Biddeford High School	Ecology Learning Ctr
Students per teacherat that high school	14.1Highest	12.4Lowest
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.