Compare towns
Lewiston vs Berlin vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lewiston has the most renters (48.8% rent).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Lewiston | Berlin | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 38,324Highest |
2,880Lowest |
4,262 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.3±1.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
42.6±5.9 10% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Lewiston and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,393±$4kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$99,181±$5kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Durham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,100±$8kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$322,200±$34kHighest 3% below U.S. |
| Durham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $986±$44Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S. |
— |
| Berlin and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,899Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$4,418Highest 42% above U.S. |
$3,781 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.7%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±40.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lewiston and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #132 of 133 in ME | #16 of 70 in VT | #14 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | Lewiston High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
— | — |
| 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.