What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% 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	South Berwick	Biddeford
People
Population	7,670Lowest	22,498Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+6%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	39±2.5Highest 13% below ME	35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME
	South Berwick and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.7%±6Highest ME: 18.1%	15.6%±2.2Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	15.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4%	17.1%±1.7Highest ME: 22.4%
	Biddeford and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	32.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	11%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,572±$13kHighest 33% above ME	$72,333±$4kLowest 3% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$428,300±$26kHighest 44% above ME	$396,600±$25kLowest 34% above ME
	South Berwick and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,726±$83Highest 52% above ME	$1,292±$100Lowest 13% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,956Highest 63% above ME	$4,401Lowest 45% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.5%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4%	37.2%±6Lowest ME: 48.4%
	South Berwick and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%	15.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.3%Highest ME: 74.3%	48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME	1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 9% above ME	24 minLowest 4% below ME
Work from home	17.6%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9%	14.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	South Berwick 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	#58 of 133 in ME	#111 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 35/MSAD 35	Biddeford Public Schools
High school in town	Marshwood High School	Biddeford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Lowest	14.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.