Compare towns
Lewiston vs Limerick vs Mapleton vs Biddeford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lewiston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Limerick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Biddeford has the most expensive homes ($397k 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 | Lewiston | Limerick | Mapleton | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 38,324Highest |
3,400 |
1,884Lowest |
22,498 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% ME: +2.6% |
+10.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.3±1.2 17% below ME |
40.4±9.2 10% below ME |
41.8±6Highest 7% below ME |
35±2.6Lowest 22% below ME |
| Mapleton and Limerick 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% |
18.7%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±1.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±1.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
27.5% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±1 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
11%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| 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 | $55,393±$4kLowest 26% below ME |
$101,172±$15kHighest 35% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$72,333±$4k 3% below ME |
| Limerick and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,100±$8k 21% below ME |
$269,400±$29k 9% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$396,600±$25kHighest 34% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $986±$44 13% below ME |
$1,758±$407Highest 54% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,292±$100 13% above ME |
| Limerick 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 |
$2,520 17% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$4,401Highest 45% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.7%±5.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.2%±6 ME: 48.4% |
| Lewiston and Limerick 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% |
6.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
15.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2% ME: 74.3% |
89.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
48.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 20 yrs older than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 15% below ME |
38 minHighest 53% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.3%±2.4 ME: 15.9% |
15.2%±6.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±2.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Limerick and Biddeford 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 | — | — | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | Lewiston High School | — | None in town | Biddeford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | — | 14.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.