Compare towns
Saco vs Dover 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 the most homeowners (72.8%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
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 | Dover | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Lowest |
33,364Highest |
22,498 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saco and Biddeford 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% |
52%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% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Dover 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±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$396,600±$25kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Dover and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saco and Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Dover School District | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Biddeford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Lowest |
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.