Compare towns
Bangor vs Windham 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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham | Lewiston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 31,938 |
16,038Lowest |
38,324Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±1.3 5% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Highest 6% above U.S. |
37.3±1.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±1.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 26% below U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$55,393±$4kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,600±$10kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$235,100±$8k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,055±$43 25% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$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% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.7%±5.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #132 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4 | Windham School District | Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy |
| High school in town | Bangor High School | Windham High School | Lewiston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3 |
12.8Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.