Compare towns
Lewiston vs Berlin vs Waterville
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).
Berlin has the most homeowners (87.9%).
Waterville has the most people working from home (16.6%).
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 | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 38,324Highest |
2,880Lowest |
17,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.3±1.2 4% below U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
35.5±2.5Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lewiston and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
18.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,393±$4k 31% below U.S. |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$53,580±$4kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,100±$8k 29% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$184,600±$21kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $986±$44 30% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S. |
$978±$72Lowest 31% 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 | $2,899 7% below U.S. |
$4,418Highest 42% above U.S. |
$2,755Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.7%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.5%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lewiston and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 20% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waterville and Lewiston 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | #105 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Waterville Public Schools |
| High school in town | Lewiston High School | None in town | Waterville Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
| 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.