Compare towns
Biddeford vs Williston vs Dayton
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Dayton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Williston | Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,498Highest |
10,144 |
2,313Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.1±5.5 8% above U.S. |
| Williston and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$113,750±$24kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Dayton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,600±$25kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$398,200±$34k 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,215±$867Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401 41% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,872Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Dayton 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Dayton 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Dayton Public Schools |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1 |
— | — |
| 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.