Compare towns
Biddeford vs Exeter vs Newfields 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 youngest population (median age 35).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Exeter | Newfields | Lewiston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,498 |
16,151 |
2,023Lowest |
38,324Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
37.3±1.2 4% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Newfields 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% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lewiston and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 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. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$55,393±$4kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,600±$25k 19% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$235,100±$8kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$986±$44Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401 41% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,899Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.7%±5.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Lewiston 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #132 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newfields School District | Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | Exeter High School | None in town | Lewiston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1 |
12.1Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 6 photos → | 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.