Compare towns
Bangor vs Lewiston vs Mapleton
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).
Lewiston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).
Mapleton has the most homeowners (79.9%).
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 | Lewiston | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 31,938 |
38,324Highest |
1,884Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41±1.3 8% below ME |
37.3±1.2Lowest 17% below ME |
41.8±6Highest 7% below ME |
| Mapleton 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% |
20.6%±1.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.4%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
10.1%±1 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Lowest 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 |
$55,393±$4kLowest 26% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,600±$10k 26% below ME |
$235,100±$8kHighest 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% 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±$44 13% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% 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 |
$2,899 5% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±6.5 ME: 48.4% |
51.7%±5.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest 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% |
20%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
51.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME |
1957 20 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 33% below ME |
21 min 15% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±2.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Lewiston and Mapleton 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | Bangor High School | Lewiston High School | None in town |
| 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.