Compare towns

Saco vs Dummerston 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%).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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.

MeasureSacoDummerstonBiddeford
People
Population
20,819
2,090Lowest
22,498Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.9±1.5
15% above U.S.
45.6±11.7Highest
17% above U.S.
35±2.6Lowest
10% below U.S.
Dummerston 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
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Dummerston and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.5%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.1%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
43.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
11%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$92,241±$11k
14% above U.S.
$101,696±$21kHighest
26% above U.S.
$72,333±$4kLowest
10% below U.S.
Dummerston 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
24% above U.S.
$335,300±$22kLowest
about the U.S. average
$396,600±$25k
19% above U.S.
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
12% below U.S.
$1,392±$126Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,292±$100
9% below U.S.
Dummerston and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,807Highest
54% above U.S.
$4,536
45% above U.S.
$4,401Lowest
41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.3%±14Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2
U.S.: 51.1%
37.2%±6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Saco and Dummerston 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%
4.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
15.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
48.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minHighest
10% below U.S.
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
24 min
10% below U.S.
Work from home
19%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.2%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dummerston 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 — #111 of 133 in ME
School district Saco Public Schools Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 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

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.