What it's like to live in Biddeford
Biddeford is a small city in Maine with rent below the national average, unemployment below the national average, air quality that stays clean most of the year, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Biddeford deals with cold, harsh winters, snowy winters, above-average rainfall, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Low unemployment
- Clean air
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Cold, harsh winters
- Snowy winters — 49" per year
- Above-average rainfall
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Biddeford compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Biddeford
Based on Biddeford's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,584
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $51,680 a year
- 36% of Biddeford renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$79,320
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $39,660
- Homes cost 5.5× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,292/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,292 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices run above average, with a median around $396,600. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $396,600 · 36% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 28% below US
3.1% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.1%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 20% below US
264 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 1899/100k · Biddeford Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
24 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 23.7 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 14% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 75°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 16°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 11% below US
32% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 32% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
6 public schools inside the boundary
There are 6 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Frances Perkins National Monument (57 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Biddeford's strongest points are rent below the national average and unemployment below the national average; the main tradeoffs are cold, harsh winters and snowy winters. A year of median rent ($1,292/mo) equals 21% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers. It may be a harder fit for anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
Other places near Biddeford
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