What stands out worked out from the figures below

Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).

Westbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).

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	Westbrook
People
Population	22,498Highest	20,775Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+16.6%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME	37.4±1Highest 17% below ME
	Westbrook 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%	18.5%±2.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Westbrook and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.1%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4%	18.1%±2.2Highest ME: 22.4%
	Westbrook and Biddeford 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%	41.3%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8%	9%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Biddeford and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,333±$4kLowest 3% below ME	$85,038±$7kHighest 14% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$396,600±$25kHighest 34% above ME	$383,300±$19kLowest 29% above ME
	Biddeford and Westbrook 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	$1,392±$74Highest 22% above ME
	Westbrook and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,401Highest 45% above ME	$4,005Lowest 32% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.2%±6Lowest ME: 48.4%	46.1%±7.4Highest ME: 48.4%
	Westbrook 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%	8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	61.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME	1975Highest 2 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 4% below ME	19 minLowest 24% below ME
Work from home	14.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	17.8%±2.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Westbrook 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	#115 of 133 in ME
School district	Biddeford Public Schools	Westbrook Public Schools
High school in town	Biddeford High School	Westbrook High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.1Highest	12.0Lowest
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.