What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bangor has the shortest commute (17 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bangor	Lewiston
People
Population	31,938Lowest	38,324Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+1.4%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41±1.3Highest 8% below ME	37.3±1.2Lowest 17% below ME
Kids under 18	16.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	20.6%±1.5Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	19.9%±1.9Highest ME: 22.4%	18.3%±1.7Lowest 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%Highest ME: 36.2%	22.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.4%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8%	10.1%±1Lowest 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±$7kHighest 20% below ME	$55,393±$4kLowest 26% below ME
	Bangor and Lewiston 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	$235,100±$8kHighest 21% below ME
	Lewiston and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,055±$43Highest 7% below ME	$986±$44Lowest 13% below ME
	Bangor and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,076Highest about the ME average	$2,899Lowest 5% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.5%±6.5Lowest 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%Lowest ME: 10.7%	20%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	47.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	51.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME	1957Highest 20 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 33% below ME	21 minHighest 15% below ME
Work from home	10.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	12.3%±2.4Highest ME: 15.9%
	Lewiston and Bangor 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	#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 Our Story	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.