Compare towns
Biddeford vs Stoneham 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).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).
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 | Stoneham | Lewiston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,498Lowest |
23,355 |
38,324Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
42.2±2.2Highest 8% above U.S. |
37.3±1.2 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±1.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Stoneham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stoneham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest 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. |
$113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$55,393±$4kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,600±$25k 19% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$235,100±$8kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$986±$44Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401 41% above U.S. |
$6,523Highest 109% above U.S. |
$2,899Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.7%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lewiston and Stoneham 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% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Highest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #111 of 133 in ME | #117 of 282 in MA | #132 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | Stoneham | Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | Stoneham High | Lewiston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1 |
10.7Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.