Compare towns
Biddeford vs Readfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Readfield has the most homeowners (89.9%).
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 | Readfield | Lewiston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,498 |
2,651Lowest |
38,324Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
0%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
48.1±7.6Highest 7% above ME |
37.3±1.2 17% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
20.6%±1.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Lewiston and Readfield 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% |
22.3%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Readfield 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% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±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 |
$86,504±$8kHighest 16% above ME |
$55,393±$4kLowest 26% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,600±$25kHighest 34% above ME |
$326,400±$20k 10% above ME |
$235,100±$8kLowest 21% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$100Highest 13% above ME |
$1,125±$844 about the ME average |
$986±$44Lowest 13% below ME |
| Biddeford and Readfield 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 |
$3,392 12% above ME |
$2,899Lowest 5% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6 ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
51.7%±5.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 15.5% ME: 10.7% |
5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
20%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
51.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1957 20 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 4% below ME |
30 minHighest 20% above ME |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7 ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Readfield 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 | #20 of 133 in ME | #132 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | RSU 38 | Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | Maranacook Community High Sch | Lewiston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1 |
11.5Lowest |
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.