Compare towns
Biddeford vs Westminster vs Saco
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Westminster | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,498Highest |
2,999Lowest |
20,819 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Saco 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% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,333±$4k 10% below U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$92,241±$11kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,600±$25k 19% above U.S. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Saco and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$100Highest 9% below U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
| Biddeford and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401 41% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Westminster 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 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% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Saco 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1Highest |
10.6Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.