Compare towns
Biddeford vs Lewiston vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Biddeford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Lewiston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Mapleton has the most homeowners (79.9%).
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 | Lewiston | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,498 |
38,324Highest |
1,884Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.4% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
37.3±1.2 17% below ME |
41.8±6Highest 7% below ME |
| Mapleton and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.6%±1.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Lewiston 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% |
18.3%±1.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% ME: 36.2% |
22.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
10.1%±1 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Lowest 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 |
$55,393±$4kLowest 26% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Mapleton 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 |
$235,100±$8k 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$100Highest 13% above ME |
$986±$44 13% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401Highest 45% above ME |
$2,899 5% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6 ME: 48.4% |
51.7%±5.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 15.5% ME: 10.7% |
20%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
51.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
1957 20 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% below ME |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±2.4 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest 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 | #132 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | Lewiston High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1Lowest |
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.