Compare towns
Old Orchard Beach vs Gorham vs Biddeford vs Belfast
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).
Belfast has the most affordable homes ($341k median).
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 | Old Orchard Beach | Gorham | Biddeford | Belfast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,244 |
18,300 |
22,498Highest |
6,986Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6% ME: +2.6% |
+4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 58±3.5 29% above ME |
39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
60.6±3.1Highest 35% above ME |
| Belfast and Old Orchard Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±2.2 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.5%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
39.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Belfast and Old Orchard Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8% ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
42.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
11%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Gorham and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $60,050±$11kLowest 20% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$72,333±$4k 3% below ME |
$67,679±$9k 9% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $366,600±$38k 24% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$396,600±$25k 34% above ME |
$340,900±$34kLowest 15% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$182 9% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,292±$100 13% above ME |
$962±$92Lowest 16% below ME |
| Gorham and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,426Lowest 13% above ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$4,401 45% above ME |
$4,145 37% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±15Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
47.4%±14.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Old Orchard Beach and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.9% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.5% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.2% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
68.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
1967 10 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 11% below ME |
27 minHighest 10% above ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
22 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 15%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±2.7 ME: 15.9% |
12%±6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham and Old Orchard Beach 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 | #67 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | #111 of 133 in ME | #84 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 23 | Gorham Public Schools | Biddeford Public Schools | RSU 71 |
| High school in town | Old Orchard Beach High School | Gorham High School | Biddeford High School | Belfast Area High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.6Lowest |
12.9 |
14.1Highest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.