Compare towns
Saco vs Bow vs Biddeford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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.
| Measure | Saco | Bow | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819 |
8,335Lowest |
22,498Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Saco and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saco and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$396,600±$25kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
| Bow and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Saco 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | #26 of 120 in NH | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Bow School District | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Biddeford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Lowest |
14.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.