Compare towns

Lewiston vs Mapleton vs Bangor

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lewiston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).
Mapleton has the most homeowners (79.9%).
Bangor has the shortest commute (17 min average).

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.

MeasureLewistonMapletonBangor
People
Population
38,324Highest
1,884Lowest
31,938
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.4%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-3.2%
ME: +2.6%
-3.9%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
37.3±1.2Lowest
17% below ME
41.8±6Highest
7% below ME
41±1.3
8% below ME
Mapleton and Bangor 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%
22.2%±5.1Highest
ME: 18.1%
16.7%±1.7Lowest
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%±1.7Lowest
ME: 22.4%
18.3%±3.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
19.9%±1.9Highest
ME: 22.4%
Bangor 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%
34.3%
ME: 36.2%
35.1%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.1%±1
ME: 5.8%
5%±2.9Lowest
ME: 5.8%
10.4%±1.6Highest
ME: 5.8%
Bangor 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
$91,731±$25kHighest
23% above ME
$59,942±$7k
20% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$235,100±$8kHighest
21% below ME
$191,800±$23kLowest
35% below ME
$219,600±$10k
26% below ME
Lewiston and Bangor 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
$610±$277Lowest
46% below ME
$1,055±$43Highest
7% below ME
Bangor 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
$1,789Lowest
41% below ME
$3,076Highest
about the ME average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.7%±5.9Highest
ME: 48.4%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
51.5%±6.5
ME: 48.4%
Lewiston and Bangor 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%
8.9%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
17.9%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.2%
ME: 74.3%
79.9%Highest
ME: 74.3%
47.2%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1957
20 yrs older than ME
1977Highest
same as ME
1954Lowest
23 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
15% below ME
28 minHighest
13% above ME
17 minLowest
33% below ME
Work from home
12.3%±2.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
10.8%±3.8
ME: 15.9%
10.1%±2.5Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Lewiston and Mapleton 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 — #37 of 133 in ME
School district Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy RSU 79/MSAD 01 Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4
High school in town Lewiston High School None in town Bangor High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.7Highest
—
13.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.