What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).

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	Westminster
People
Population	22,498Highest	2,999Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S.	53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S.
Kids under 18	15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Westminster 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 U.S.: 17.2%	27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,333±$4kHighest 10% below U.S.	$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S.
	Biddeford and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$396,600±$25kHighest 19% above U.S.	$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$100Highest 9% below U.S.	$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,401Highest 41% above U.S.	$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	49.2%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Westminster 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 U.S.: 12.5%	8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.	24 minHighest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#111 of 133 in ME	#53 of 70 in VT
School district	Biddeford Public Schools	Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District
High school in town	Biddeford High School	Bellows Falls Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.1Highest	10.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.