Compare towns
Biddeford vs Woolwich vs Brewer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Biddeford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Woolwich has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Brewer has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
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 | Woolwich | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,498Highest |
3,158Lowest |
9,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
55.8±5.5Highest 25% above ME |
40.1±4.8 10% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
15%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Brewer 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% |
33.9%±8.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Woolwich and Brewer 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% |
52.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
35% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Biddeford and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,333±$4k 3% below ME |
$102,175±$26kHighest 37% above ME |
$66,613±$9kLowest 11% below ME |
| Woolwich and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,600±$25kHighest 34% above ME |
$254,500±$59k 14% below ME |
$245,300±$21kLowest 17% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$100Highest 13% above ME |
— | $1,086±$54Lowest 5% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401Highest 45% above ME |
$2,433Lowest 20% below ME |
$3,374 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
64.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Woolwich and Brewer 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% |
13.3% ME: 10.7% |
12.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
59.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1959 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% below ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Biddeford and Woolwich 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 | #92 of 133 in ME | #32 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Brewer Public Schools |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | None in town | Brewer High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1Highest |
— | 14.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.