What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k median).

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	Washburn
People
Population	22,498Highest	1,355Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest ME: +2.6%	-9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME	48.2±7.7Highest 8% above ME
Kids under 18	15.6%±2.2Lowest ME: 18.1%	21.7%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	17.1%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4%	24%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	26%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,333±$4kHighest 3% below ME	$56,196±$6kLowest 25% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$396,600±$25kHighest 34% above ME	$112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$100Highest 13% above ME	$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,401Highest 45% above ME	$1,571Lowest 48% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.2%±6Highest ME: 48.4%	33.3%±24.7Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Biddeford and Washburn 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%	12.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	78.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME	1969Highest 8 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 4% below ME	21 minLowest 15% below ME
Work from home	14.2%±2.7Highest ME: 15.9%	9.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Biddeford and Washburn 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 45/MSAD 45
High school in town	Biddeford High School	Washburn District High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.1Highest	12.0Lowest
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.