Compare towns
Dedham vs Biddeford vs Dedham
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.
| Measure | Dedham | Biddeford | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
22,498Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$396,600±$25kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,292±$100Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Highest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Highest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #111 of 133 in ME | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Biddeford Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Biddeford High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
14.1Highest |
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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.