Compare towns
Bangor vs Berlin vs Lewiston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bangor has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Berlin has the most homeowners (87.9%).
Lewiston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).
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 | Bangor | Berlin | Lewiston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 31,938 |
2,880Lowest |
38,324Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±1.3 5% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
37.3±1.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bangor and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,942±$7k 26% below U.S. |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$55,393±$4kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,600±$10kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$235,100±$8k 29% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,055±$43 25% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S. |
$986±$44Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,076 about the U.S. average |
$4,418Highest 42% above U.S. |
$2,899Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.7%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lewiston and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 20% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lewiston and Berlin 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 | #37 of 133 in ME | #16 of 70 in VT | #132 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy |
| High school in town | Bangor High School | None in town | Lewiston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
| 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.