Compare towns
Bangor vs Standish 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).
Standish has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Lewiston has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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 | Standish | Lewiston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 31,938 |
10,662Lowest |
38,324Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41±1.3Highest 8% below ME |
40.5±2.8 10% below ME |
37.3±1.2Lowest 17% below ME |
| Bangor and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±1.7 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.6%±1.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±1.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest 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% |
36%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.4%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
11.6%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
10.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Standish and Bangor 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 |
$104,593±$15kHighest 40% above ME |
$55,393±$4kLowest 26% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,600±$10kLowest 26% below ME |
$336,000±$18kHighest 13% above ME |
$235,100±$8k 21% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,055±$43Highest 7% below ME |
$983±$453Lowest 14% below ME |
$986±$44 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 |
$3,005 about the ME average |
$2,899Lowest 5% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±6.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
57.4%±22.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
51.7%±5.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Standish and Lewiston 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% |
7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
20%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
51.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1957 20 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 33% below ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
21 min 15% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.6%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±2.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Standish 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 | #18 of 133 in ME | #132 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy |
| High school in town | Bangor High School | Bonny Eagle High School | Lewiston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3 |
12.5Lowest |
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.