What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lewiston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).

Bangor has the shortest commute (17 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lewiston	Bangor
People
Population	38,324Highest	31,938Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4%Highest ME: +2.6%	-3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	37.3±1.2Lowest 17% below ME	41±1.3Highest 8% below ME
Kids under 18	20.6%±1.5Highest ME: 18.1%	16.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	18.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4%	19.9%±1.9Highest ME: 22.4%
	Bangor and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%	35.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8%	10.4%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8%
	Bangor and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$55,393±$4kLowest 26% below ME	$59,942±$7kHighest 20% below ME
	Bangor and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$235,100±$8kHighest 21% below ME	$219,600±$10kLowest 26% below ME
	Lewiston and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$986±$44Lowest 13% below ME	$1,055±$43Highest 7% below ME
	Bangor and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,899Lowest 5% below ME	$3,076Highest about the ME average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.7%±5.9Highest ME: 48.4%	51.5%±6.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Lewiston and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	20%Highest ME: 10.7%	17.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	47.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Highest 20 yrs older than ME	1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 15% below ME	17 minLowest 33% below ME
Work from home	12.3%±2.4Highest ME: 15.9%	10.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Lewiston and Bangor 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	#132 of 133 in ME	#37 of 133 in ME
School district	Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy	Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4
High school in town	Lewiston High School	Bangor High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	13.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.