Compare towns
Bangor vs Berwick vs Lewiston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bangor has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Lewiston has the youngest population (median age 37.3).
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 | Berwick | Lewiston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 31,938 |
1,998Lowest |
38,324Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41±1.3 8% below ME |
42.6±3.6Highest 5% below ME |
37.3±1.2Lowest 17% below ME |
| Berwick and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.5%±12.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.6%±1.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Berwick and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±1.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.9%±8.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Bangor and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1% ME: 36.2% |
35.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.4%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
10.1%±1 ME: 5.8% |
| 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 20% below ME |
$81,406±$39kHighest 9% above ME |
$55,393±$4kLowest 26% below ME |
| Berwick 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 26% below ME |
$323,300±$36kHighest 9% above ME |
$235,100±$8k 21% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,055±$43Highest 7% below ME |
$1,041±$901 9% below ME |
$986±$44Lowest 13% below ME |
| Bangor and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,076 about the ME average |
$3,806Highest 25% above ME |
$2,899Lowest 5% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±6.5 ME: 48.4% |
40.9%±45.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
51.7%±5.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| 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% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
20%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
73%Highest ME: 74.3% |
51.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME |
1969Highest 8 yrs older than ME |
1957 20 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 33% below ME |
34 minHighest 37% above ME |
21 min 15% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.7%±7.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±2.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Berwick and Lewiston 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 | #101 of 133 in ME | #132 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 | — | Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy |
| High school in town | Bangor High School | — | 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 |
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.