Compare towns
Lewiston vs Gorham vs Augusta vs Biddeford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Augusta has the most affordable homes ($201k median).
Biddeford has the youngest population (median age 35).
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 | Gorham | Augusta | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 38,324Highest |
18,300Lowest |
19,077 |
22,498 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.3±1.2 17% below ME |
39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
42.5±2.4Highest 5% below ME |
35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
| Augusta and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±1.5 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Augusta 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% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.9% ME: 36.2% |
32.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±1 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
11%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Gorham and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $55,393±$4k 26% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$72,333±$4k 3% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,100±$8k 21% below ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
$396,600±$25k 34% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $986±$44 13% below ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,292±$100 13% above ME |
| Gorham and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,899 5% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
$4,401 45% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.7%±5.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Lewiston and Augusta 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% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.2% ME: 10.7% |
15.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
53.8% ME: 74.3% |
48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 20 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1965 12 yrs older than ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 15% below ME |
27 minHighest 10% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±2.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham and Augusta 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #119 of 133 in ME | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy | Gorham Public Schools | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | Lewiston High School | Gorham High School | Cony | Biddeford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
12.9Lowest |
17.9Highest |
14.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.