Compare towns
Bangor vs Durham 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).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Lewiston has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Lewiston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 31,938 |
15,080Lowest |
38,324Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±1.3Highest 5% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
37.3±1.2 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,942±$7k 26% below U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$55,393±$4kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,600±$10kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$235,100±$8k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,055±$43 25% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$986±$44Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,076 about the U.S. average |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,899Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.7%±5.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Lewiston 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% |
15.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #37 of 133 in ME | #9 of 120 in NH | #132 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 | Oyster River Coop School District | Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy |
| High school in town | Bangor High School | Oyster River High School | Lewiston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3 |
12.3Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.