Compare towns
Biddeford vs Ellsworth vs Lewiston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Biddeford has the most expensive homes ($397k median).
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Biddeford | Ellsworth | Lewiston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,498 |
8,657Lowest |
38,324Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% ME: +2.6% |
+8.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
43±2.4Highest 4% below ME |
37.3±1.2 17% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
20.6%±1.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Lewiston and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Ellsworth and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% ME: 36.2% |
39.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
10.1%±1 ME: 5.8% |
| 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 3% below ME |
$77,375±$18kHighest 4% above ME |
$55,393±$4kLowest 26% below ME |
| Ellsworth and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,600±$25kHighest 34% above ME |
$242,300±$22k 18% below ME |
$235,100±$8kLowest 21% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$100Highest 13% above ME |
$1,017±$195 11% below ME |
$986±$44Lowest 13% below ME |
| Biddeford and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401Highest 45% above ME |
$3,262 7% above ME |
$2,899Lowest 5% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
51.7%±5.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Ellsworth and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.5% ME: 10.7% |
9.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
20%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
66.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
51.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1957 20 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% below ME |
25 minHighest about the ME average |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±2.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Biddeford 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 | #111 of 133 in ME | #63 of 133 in ME | #132 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | Ellsworth Public Schools | Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | Ellsworth High School | Lewiston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1 |
12.7Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 5 photos → | 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.