Performance
Score Breakdown
Biddeford
New York City
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Biddeford is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
12% lower compared to New York City.
Housing costs are a major driver: Biddeford's average rent is
35% lower than New York City's.
| Metric | Biddeford | New York City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $2,199 | $3,382 | -35% |
| Groceries | $426 | $520 | -18% |
| Utilities | $428 | $370 | +16% |
| Transport | $789 | $130 | +507% |
| Healthcare | $252 | $250 | +1% |
| Monthly Total | $4,094 | $4,652 | -12% |
| Cost Index | 122 | 178 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
New York City offers 33% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, New York City delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Biddeford is estimated at
$87,960 vs $61,000 in New York City.
| Metric | Biddeford | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $67,565 | $100,877 |
| Salary Needed | $87,960 | $61,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 55,381 idx | 56,672 idx |
| Household Income | $72,333 | $80,483 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Biddeford | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 71.00% | 63.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Biddeford has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
9,500 minutes (158 hours) per year compared to New York City.
New York City scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, New York City leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Biddeford | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 24 min | 43 min |
| Transit Score | 30.0/10 | 88.0/10 |
| Walkability | 45.0/10 | 89.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 167.60 | |
| Car Dependency | High | Low |
Population
Economy & Demographics
New York City is the larger city
.
From a growth perspective, Biddeford is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Biddeford has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Biddeford | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 22,932 | 8,585,000 |
| Pop. Growth | % | % |
| Median Age | 35.0 | 38.2 |
| Unemployment | 3.00% | 4.90% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $1,354.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Biddeford
Advantages
Vibrant downtown with revitalized historic mill buildings and cultural attractions.
Lower unemployment rate (3% in May 2026) compared to the national average.
Strong presence of top industries like Education and Health Care and Social Services providing job opportunities.
Relatively young median age (35.0 years) contributing to a dynamic community.
Access to a full-service hospital, MaineHealth Maine Medical Center Biddeford, within the city.
Drawbacks
Overall cost of living is significantly higher than the national average (22% higher in 2026).
Highest violent crime rate in Maine (313.8 per 100K in 2024) and overall crime rate 26% higher than national average.
Housing costs are notably high, with average apartment rent at $2,199/month in July 2026.
High car dependency due to limited public transportation options.
Long-term care costs, such as assisted living and nursing homes, are considerably higher than national averages.
New York City
Advantages
New York City is the most linguistically diverse city globally, with an estimated 800 languages spoken.
The city boasts a world-class public transportation system, with a transit score of 88 and a walkability score of 89.
New York City's private sector employment reached a record high of 4.25 million jobs in December 2024.
Overall index crime in New York City saw a nearly 3% reduction in 2024, marking the second consecutive year of declines.
New York City is a global hub for finance, media, tech, healthcare, and tourism, offering unparalleled opportunities.
Drawbacks
The cost of living in New York City is 78% higher than the national average, making it one of the most expensive cities globally.
Median rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Manhattan reached $4,595 in April 2024.
The city experienced a population decline of 12,000 residents between June 2024 and July 2025.
New York City has a high traffic index of 167.6 and an average commute time of 43.34 minutes.
Housing affordability has reached a crisis due to high costs and a slow pace of new housing construction.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Biddeford
#94Maine, USA
65.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,199
Avg Salary
$67,565
Cost Index
122
Commute
24 min
Transit Score
30.0/10
Walkability
45.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
3.00%
Livability
67
Business
68
New York City
#69New York, USA
68.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$3,382
Avg Salary
$100,877
Cost Index
178
Commute
43 min
Transit Score
88.0/10
Walkability
89.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.90%
Livability
70
Business
62
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