Compare towns
Lewiston vs Lisbon vs Mapleton vs Auburn
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 most renters (48.8% rent).
Lisbon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Auburn has the most expensive homes ($282k 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 | Lisbon | Mapleton | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 38,324Highest |
9,750 |
1,884Lowest |
24,602 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% ME: +2.6% |
+7.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.3±1.2Lowest 17% below ME |
38.4±2.9 14% below ME |
41.8±6Highest 7% below ME |
41.4±2.7 8% below ME |
| Mapleton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±1.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±2.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
16.2%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
19.8%±2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Auburn 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% |
23.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±1Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $55,393±$4kLowest 26% below ME |
$77,819±$9k 4% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$66,647±$5k 11% below ME |
| Mapleton and Lisbon 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 |
$258,300±$26k 13% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$282,000±$12kHighest 5% below ME |
| Auburn and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $986±$44 13% below ME |
$979±$286 14% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,041±$74Highest 9% below ME |
| Auburn and Lewiston 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 |
$3,324 9% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,687Highest 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.7%±5.9 ME: 48.4% |
43.4%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.4%±7.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Auburn and Lewiston 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% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
74.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
59.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 20 yrs older than ME |
1973 4 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 15% below ME |
29 minHighest 17% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
22 min 12% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.3%±2.4 ME: 15.9% |
18.1%±9.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.5%±2.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Lisbon 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 | #60 of 133 in ME | — | #110 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy | Lisbon Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Auburn Public Schools |
| High school in town | Lewiston High School | Lisbon High School | None in town | Edward Little High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
15.8Highest |
— | 13.1Lowest |
| 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.