Compare towns
Biddeford vs Dover 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
Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Lewiston has the most affordable homes ($235k median).
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 | Biddeford | Dover | Lewiston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,498Lowest |
33,364 |
38,324Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
37.3±1.2Highest 4% below U.S. |
| Lewiston and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lewiston and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Biddeford and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,333±$4k 10% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$55,393±$4kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,600±$25k 19% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$235,100±$8kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Dover and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$986±$44Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401 41% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$2,899Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.7%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lewiston and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Biddeford 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 | #111 of 133 in ME | #64 of 120 in NH | #132 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | Dover School District | Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | Dover Senior High School | Lewiston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1 |
12.7Lowest |
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.