What stands out worked out from the figures below

Somersworth has the most kids (19.9% under 18).

Biddeford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Somersworth	Biddeford
People
Population	12,111Lowest	22,498Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.4±2.7Highest about the U.S. average	35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S.
	Somersworth and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Somersworth and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17.1%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Biddeford and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	32.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,504±$13kHighest 8% below U.S.	$72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S.
	Somersworth and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$318,400±$23kLowest 4% below U.S.	$396,600±$25kHighest 19% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,477±$134Highest 5% above U.S.	$1,292±$100Lowest 9% below U.S.
	Somersworth and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,805Highest 118% above U.S.	$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.3%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Somersworth and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	57.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	11.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Biddeford and Somersworth 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	#117 of 120 in NH	#111 of 133 in ME
School district	Somersworth School District	Biddeford Public Schools
High school in town	Somersworth High School	Biddeford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	14.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.