What stands out worked out from the figures below

Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).

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	Epping	Biddeford
People
Population	7,430Lowest	22,498Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S.	35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S.
Kids under 18	18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22%	15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Epping and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Epping and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S.	$72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S.	$396,600±$25kLowest 19% above U.S.
	Epping and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S.	$1,292±$100Lowest 9% below U.S.
	Epping and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,936Highest 122% above U.S.	$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Epping and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 22% above U.S.	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#77 of 120 in NH	#111 of 133 in ME
School district	Epping School District	Biddeford Public Schools
High school in town	Epping High School	Biddeford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.3Lowest	14.1Highest
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.