Compare towns
Saco vs Dedham vs Biddeford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
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 | Dedham | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819 |
1,656Lowest |
22,498Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
46.5±2.2Highest 4% above ME |
35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
| Dedham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Dedham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
11%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 23% above ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$72,333±$4kLowest 3% below ME |
| Dedham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$356,400±$33kLowest 20% above ME |
$396,600±$25k 34% above ME |
| Saco and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Lowest 10% above ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$1,292±$100 13% above ME |
| Dedham and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$3,942Lowest 30% above ME |
$4,401 45% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6 ME: 48.4% |
| Saco and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
15.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% below ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±2.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Saco and Biddeford 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 | — | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Dedham Public Schools | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Biddeford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.