Compare towns
Biddeford vs Lewiston vs Rye
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Lewiston has the most affordable homes ($235k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Lewiston | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,498 |
38,324Highest |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
37.3±1.2 4% below U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Lewiston and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$55,393±$4kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,600±$25k 19% above U.S. |
$235,100±$8kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
$986±$44Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401 41% above U.S. |
$2,899Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.7%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lewiston and Rye 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% |
20%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #111 of 133 in ME | #132 of 133 in ME | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy | Rye School District |
| 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 Our Story | 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.