Compare towns
Saco vs Epping 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
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
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 | Epping | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819 |
7,430Lowest |
22,498Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Epping 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. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$396,600±$25kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Epping 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. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
| Epping 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Saco 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Epping School District | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | Biddeford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
14.1Highest |
| 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.